As much as I would like to own them, all the characters of Glee belong to Fox – I own nothing. All the characters of The Fast and the Furious belong to Universal Studios, I'm just borrowing some of them. All writing belongs to me.
I'm back! Sorry for the wait on this one guys, I've been super busy but hopefully I will be back next week. I think there's gonna more chapters like this (short-ish) so that I can get regular weekly updates out rather than making you wait two weeks between chapters. Anyway, we'll see what happens :)
To everybody who reviewed and followed, thank you and welcome, enjoy this chapter and I will see you soon! :D
Letty studied the map before her whilst Santana and the others got ready to start the job.
"You sure you guys can pull it off?" She asked, looking up to see Santana pulling on a black jacket over her matching black t-shirt.
The younger Latina nodded. "Sure, we have Britt."
"Don't worry." Brittany grinned. "I'm gonna get them in as fast and cleanly as possible."
"As long as you manage to get out just as cleanly."
"We've got it covered boss." Tina said, clipping her ear piece around her right ear.
"Ok then, if you're so sure. Me, Dani, Quinn and Marley will be your muscle in case this thing goes sideways – the cops are ruthless here in the tri-city state. We'll wait and watch you from here. Britt, is your dashboard cam working?"
The blonde nodded. "Tina checked it five minutes ago."
"What about person cams?"
"Already on and working." Santana replied, pointing to the camera attached to her belt.
"Good. If that's everything I want you in and out of there in under ten minutes."
"Isn't that cutting it a little close?" Santana asked, clipping her own earpiece in.
"Not for you guys. I trust you and Brittany's combined skill to do it in half the time."
"It won't be a problem, right San?"
Sharing a glance with her expectant girlfriend she shrugged and turned back to Letty. "Nope."
"Good. Get in the car and get over there. We don't have much time before the cops realise we're breaking out a car."
"It's not coming to that. Britt, T, you ready? Ok, let's go."
"Why are you so worried?" Mia asked as the three women piled into Brittany's RX8.
Letty shrugged. "I hate the police down here."
Reaching out Mia placed a hand on Letty's jacket-clad arm and started rubbing soothingly. "Don't worry, everything is going to be fine."
"I hope you're right for their sakes."
"Ok, we're approaching the docks now."
Brittany looked over at her girlfriend. "You ready to do this?"
"Yep, in and out quick and clean."
Nodding Brittany turned her attentions back forwards and turned into the road that led to the docks. They came to a security gate and rolled the window down as the guard approached them.
"What can I do for you ma'am?" He asked, looking at Brittany expectantly.
Instead of answering Brittany turned away and looked at the woman next to her, Santana getting the idea. "We're here courtesy of a friend of ours."
"And what's that friend's name exactly?" He inquired with a raised eyebrow.
"Washington."
"Hmm, Lopez?"
"Yep, that's the name."
"Ok, you don't have much time. Have a safe time ladies."
Santana nodded back in understanding as he raised the gate. "Thanks."
"No problem, just hurry it up before your window closes."
Brittany smiled at him and began to drive into the docks, breathing a sigh of relief as she looked up into the rearview mirror and saw the gate closing behind them.
"Ok, we have exactly ten minutes before they realize we're not supposed to be here." Santana announced, checking her watch. "Hit the gas Britt."
"Already done."
"Woah!"
Santana laughed as she turned to see Tina with wide eyes, the Asian girl unprepared for Brittany's sudden gain in speed. "You ok there Chang?"
"Yeah, just caught off guard."
This time it was Brittany's time to laugh. "Sorry."
"Don't worry, you'll get used to that." Santana grinned, reminiscing all the times when Brittany had insisted she drift with her in the car. She'd been caught off guard too, even being a seasoned drifter herself, but it was what made Brittany so good at what she did – the ability to switch on her ability like a light switch.
"Hopefully." Tina mumbled, looking down at her iPad, Brittany already drifting around a tight corner.
"She hasn't even got started yet."
Brittany nodded along with her girlfriend. "That's right. T, where am I going now?"
Tina looked up from her screen. "The next left and the first right."
Instead of looking at what was in front of them Santana looked over at her girlfriend and watched as she focused on following Tina's directions, her hands on the wheel whilst her feet worked the pedals in tandem with each other. Easily she flowed around the corners of shipping containers as if they were nothing but simple traffic cones and asked for the next set of directions.
"First left, then the second right."
Tuning out Tina's directions that currently she had nothing to do with she heard Letty over the radio. "Lopez, how are you guys doing?"
"We're making good progress." She replied, watching as Brittany fast approached each turn. Anybody else would be terrified at the speed around the sharp corners but Santana wasn't phased by it and had complete faith that Brittany would have analysed it and mapped what she was going to do long before Santana's own eyes ever reached it. That's why she wasn't worried. "I think we're close."
"We're about halfway there. Next right Britt." Tina interjected, her eyes never leaving the digital map on her iPad she'd created the day before.
"So Brittany's handling it?"
"With the grace only she has."
"Aww babe, you're so sweet." Brittany smiled, throwing the car around another corner.
Santana grinned right back. "I try. Letty, we're nearly there."
"Good, check in when you cut that container open."
"Will do."
"Ok the next right and then a left and we'll be there."
Santana took in Tina's last directions and looked back at the view in front of her, her girlfriend expertly handling each corner even though she was going at a high speed.
"There!"
Tina pointed ahead and Brittany followed her gloved finger, seeing the small 'clearing' of space in between a large group of containers. Tina braced herself and Santana smirked, the expression turning into a smile as Brittany came to a perfect drifted stop/slide in the middle of said space.
"Nice stop Britt." Quinn radioed, Brittany smirking as she turned the car off.
"I know, it was nothing."
Santana rolled her eyes at her girlfriend's cockiness and got out of the car, letting Tina out as well and then closing the door. "Ok T, which one is it?"
Looking up from her iPad Tina frowned. "There's no markings on these containers but this is where Roz said it would be."
"Let me guess, they're not marked for a reason?"
"I think you're right about that theory." Brittany agreed, coming to stand next to her.
"Ok, Letty, thoughts?"
"From what I can see from your camera these containers are illegal stock."
"Just what I was thinking." She agreed.
"It's got to be one of the bottom ones, that's what Roz told us. Cut the locks on as many as you have to to find that car. Are you sure you're in the right place?"
"Yeah, Tina's map shows that we're in the exact spot Roz marked on the map."
"Then do what I just told you and we'll see where it leads us. This car must be modded illegally if it's in the restricted zone."
"Restricted zone?"
Santana looked at her girlfriend ready to explain. "A rare few docks, at least the big ones like here in the tri-city area, have places that keep stock that's off the record books. It can go as far as illegal human trafficking, that sort of thing. That's why this has gotta be quick. If they know we're in the place they keep all their illegal shit in we're done for."
"Oh." Brittany replied, her eyes widening in realization.
Santana nodded. "Yeah, a car is only the start of what we could find in these containers."
"That's why you three have gotta play it safe when you open them. Let's hope they're in one of the first few. How many have you got?"
"Five."
"Right. S, cut the first one and we'll continue watching from back here."
"Got it. Ok ladies, we're up."
Tina slid her iPad into it's messenger bag and carefully placed it on the hood of Brittany's RX8. Santana then proceeded to pull her trusty pair of bolt cutters from her backpack and handed her girlfriend said bag as she approached the first container.
"Ok, here goes."
Santana cut the lock quickly, propping the bolt cutters under her arm as she pulled away the now-useless lock and pulled back both doors. Inside she was not expecting to find what she found.
"S, is that what I think it is?"
"Yeah Q."
Before Quinn could respond to her best friend Brittany squealed. "Unicorns!"
Santana rolled her eyes but smiled nonetheless, watching as Brittany rapidly approached the now-open container.
"I thought you said it was illegal stock?" Tina frowned, looking at the woman stood next to her.
The Latina shrugged. "I told you it could be anything. That includes the illegal importation of plushies." Turning back to her girlfriend she couldn't ignore the way Brittany's excited smile warmed her chest. "Britt, we need to move on to the next one."
"But-"
"Hold on." Moving forwards Santana came to a stop next to the blonde woman and reached in. She tore a whole in the nearest bag to her and reached inside, pulling out a toy with her gloved hand. She then turned to Brittany with a smile. "Here, a souvenir of our first job together."
Brittany beamed widely as Santana pressed a kiss to her cheek and took the toy, the Latina smiling back at her as she stepped back outside and moved to the next container. As Brittany placed the toy next to Tina's bag on the hood of her car she turned to see Santana already cutting the lock.
"Ok, what have you got for me?" She mumbled to herself, breaking it free and then opening the doors as she had on the first container, her eyes widening when she saw what was inside.
"Are you guys seeing this?"
She heard Mia gasp on the other end of the radio. "Wow, is that what I think it is?"
"Yep. A fully stocked race car just waiting to hit the road." She replied, taking a step back to stand in between Tina and Brittany.
"It's amazing." Brittany admired, her own expression that of pure amazement.
"Yeah but what do you think T?"
"I think we just need to steal it. It's beautiful."
"And it's yours. Come on, let's get this thing free and on the road."
"I'm with you on that. Where do we start?"
"We get inside and see what we're working with."
Tina nodded and followed Santana's lead, Brittany doing the same. The Latina was the first one in, already examining the car in the tight space she had to work with.
"How are we gonna get in it to drive it out?" Brittany asked, watching from the entrance of the container as Santana looked in the driver's side window to get a better look inside the actual car.
"You see the red tow ring on the back just below the licence plate holder? That's our way out. It's on blocks and strapped down."
"What's the quickest way to get it free? You only have five minutes left."
"I'm working on it Ortiz. Let me see." There was a brief moment of silence as Santana examined the car and then she came up with a speedy plan. "The quickest way is to cut the straps, not un-holster them properly as that will take up more time, and kick out the blocks and attach it to the front of Brittany's car."
"You sure you can do that?"
"Britt, you up for some pulling?"
The blonde shrugged. "Sure."
"Then let's move. We need to get it out so we can figure how to start it."
Santana exited the container and after rummaging around in her bag she found what she was looking for, pulling out an industrial strength two rope Roz had given her for quick tows. She attached it first to Brittany's RX8 via a tow strap attached to her front bumper and then the tow ring on the Evo and soon they were ready for the next step. Santana handed Tina a knife and told Brittany to get in her car, watching as the blonde took the stuff off her hood and brought it into the car with her. Turning back to Tina, a knife now in both their hands, she nodded and in unspoken agreement both women got to work on cutting the straps to free the car.
"You guys have got company."
"What do you mean Q?"
"The radio says that cops are heading your way right now."
"Already?"
"I told you you had to be quick, these fuckers don't wait around." Letty replied.
"Then I guess our window just got cut shorter. Come on T, we just need to kick out the blocks. Britt you ready?"
"Waiting for you to say go."
Nodding Santana and Tina started kicking out the blocks. "How are we gonna get this thing started?"
"One thing at a time T. One thing at a time."
Once the blocks had been moved from under each of the four wheels Santana and Tina exited the container and looked over at Brittany. "Ok babe, you're good to go. Pull it slow and leave your engine running in case we need to dash quick."
Doing as instructed Brittany put the car in reverse and pulled the other car out. Luckily it came easily and quickly and Santana and Tina were able to get a good look at it in all it's glory.
"What do we do now?" Brittany asked getting out of the car and stepping next to her girlfriend.
"Now we find a way to start this thing."
"Guys you'd better hurry up. You've got cops closing in on the docks right now."
"We hear you Q."
"S, here! They were tucked in between the window blades."
Looking up Santana just caught the keys that Tina threw to her, sirens now being heard in the near distance.
"T, get in Brittany's car."
"What?"
"Do it!"
Not arguing Tina got in said car as Brittany looked over at her girlfriend. "San, what are you doing?"
"I'm gonna cut you free so you can get out of here first."
"But San-"
"Britt-"
"No, you're not being the distraction again, not whilst I drive free. I'm not leaving you behind."
Judging by the look on Brittany's face Santana knew that she wasn't going to be argued with. Knowing that Brittany was putting her own life at risk to stay behind and help her warmed her chest if only for a brief reprieve of a second before she was jolted back to reality. Relenting she nodded. "Ok, help me get the strap free from both cars."
Nodding at her girlfriend Brittany pressed a quick kiss to her cheek in thanks and moved to her RX8. She wasn't leaving Santana behind, not whilst she needed help.
"I can hear them." Brittany said, helping her girlfriend pull the strap free of her car.
Listening to the sound of said voices fast approaching Santana nodded as she stood up. "I do too. We've gotta hurry."
"I agree."
They moved to the Evo, Tina watching anxiously from the passenger seat of Brittany's car as both women started working on freeing the tow strap from what was to be her future car. She looked up and saw flashlight beams.
"Hurry up guys!"
When Santana stood up she knew they had very little time remaining. She helped Brittany up and just as she grabbed her backpack from the floor she heard the last thing she wanted to hear.
"Freeze!"
Both her and Brittany followed the sound of the voice to a guard with his gun raised and before Brittany knew what was happening Santana was pushing her in the direction of her car.
"San-"
"Go! I'll be right behind you!"
Trusting that Santana would stay true to her words Brittany made a dash for her car, the guard yelling as Santana too moved. When she heard the gunshot her head instinctively followed the sound and she saw Brittany stumble, clutching at her arm.
"Brittany!"
"I'm ok, get in the Evo!"
Knowing not to disagree with her due to their current situation Santana jumped in said car, immediately firing it up. She looked up to see that guard that had shot her girlfriend holding the gun in her direction.
"I said freeze!"
She was jolted out of her focus and saw in her rearview mirror Brittany already pulling away. She immediately put the car in gear and rubber burned as she put her foot down, the car sliding as she turned it in the right direction pointing the way Brittany had left in.
"Guys, what's going on?"
"Letty, we're on our way out right now."
"I heard a gunshot. Are you ok?"
"Britt was hit in the arm but she's driving."
"Ok, we're waiting for you to get free."
"Copy that."
Soon enough she caught up with her girlfriend, speeding up so that she was right behind her. When they shared a brief lock of glances in Britany's rearview mirror they knew it was time to put their skills to the test. Keeping in line with the RX8 Santana made sure to keep her lines tight and her corners sharp, not once letting Brittany's rear lights out of her sights.
"Almost there." Tina announced. "Take the next right."
"Bad idea."
"What-"
"Cops!" Tina followed Brittany's ling of sight and saw the blue and red lights bouncing off where she had said to turn. "Santana, I'm gonna freestyle it. You ready to keep up?"
"Sure, whatever you do I'll follow."
"Good, keep up."
"There was never a doubt."
Brittany watched in her rearview mirror momentarily as Santana kept up just as good as she had expected, smiling at the thought. She couldn't ask for a better drift partner. Expertly weaving around the containers Brittany stayed five steps ahead of everybody else as she threw her car into slides around each turn, eventually clearing the minefield that was the docks. She smiled when she saw Santana slide behind her around every turn, the Latina not once failing to keep up with her even in a car that she hadn't even driven before, especially a race spec one.
"Santana, you ok back there?"
"Yeah, I'm fine T. Just make sure Brittany gets back to the rendezvous point quick so that Mia can take a look at her arm and patch her up."
"Will do S. You heard the woman Britt, let's get back to the others."
Santana pulled the keys out of the ignition and got out of the car, making her way over to the RX8 that had pulled up in front of her. She opened the driver's side door and helped Brittany out whilst trying to desperately ignore the amount of blood that had seeped out and over the arm of her jacket.
"Baby I'm fine." Brittany reasoned, her eyes meeting Santana's.
Now she knew how the blonde had felt whenever she had got shot. Instead of letting her worry get the best of her she nodded and tensed her jaw, turning to Mia. "She needs patching up."
"I can do a temporary patch and fix it up properly when we get back to Lima."
"Go ahead." Brittany urged, taking Santana's hand into hers and tugging her towards the crew leader's girlfriend, squeezing reassuringly. "Hey, at least now we match."
Rolling her eyes Santana let her tug her over to Letty's Plymouth, Mia motioning for Brittany to hop up onto the hood.
"This thing is sweet." Dani whistled, admiring the charcoal coloured Evo, Tina taking the keys from Santana as she stood with Brittany.
"It should be. I bet under the hood it'll be like a candy store." Marley agreed.
"For sure. T, you sure you can handle this?" Quinn asked, looking up at the Asian woman.
The tech expert nodded. "Of course. I'm not incapable behind the wheel."
"Nobody said you were baby. It's just a lot of power." Marley smiled, pressing a kiss to the side of her head which in turn made Tina roll her eyes.
"Whatever guys, I'll prove it. S, how easy was it to control?"
Said woman looked up from where she was holding Brittany's hand. "It was like a dream. That thing is definitely race tuned. If that had hit the streets of Lima our race scene would have definitely had a problem, especially the crews like yours."
"But luckily it hasn't and now we have it. You think anything's illegal under the hood?" Letty inquired.
Santana shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe, maybe not. It's hard to tell until we actually pop the hood and get a good look at it."
"Then I guess we'd better hurry up and get this thing back. Mia, how close are you to finishing?"
"I'm actually finishing right now. There you go Britt, take it easy until we get back to the garage."
Before Brittany could respond Santana was taking the keys to the RX8 out of her hands, the Latina already cutting off her vocal protest. "Before you argue I'm driving your car back. Driving with a freshly shot arm isn't fun, trust me."
Nodding Brittany decided that it was best not to argue with her, Santana was concerned and she wasn't going to make her worried any more than she already was. She handed over the keys and was rewarded with a soft kiss to her forehead.
"Ok ladies, let's move out. The cops are probably canvassing the area now and it won't be long before they find us."
At Letty's order everybody made their way to their separate cars, Santana opening the door for Brittany and closing it for her. She made her way around to the drivers side and slipped into her girlfriend's car, firing it up, slipping herself into the race harness and waiting to pull out. Once Quinn, the last person she had to wait for, had moved she pulled onto the road, seeing Tina in the rearview mirror follow in the Evo behind her. She turned to Brittany and took her hand over the dashboard to press a soft kiss to her knuckles.
"I'm ok Santana, I promise."
"I know, I'm just worried."
"Now you know how I felt."
"Yeah, now I guess I do."
"Brittany are you ok?" Rachel asked, worry written across her face as she watched said blonde enter the garage and move towards a stack of empty crates escorted by Santana.
She nodded in response to her best friend. "Yeah, just hit a little bump in the road. I'm fine."
Rachel smiled reassuringly at Santana and watched Mia join the couple whilst placing down a first aid kit on an empty toolbox next to them.
"Ok it looks to have just grazed you. It looks worse than it is."
"Try telling that to all the blood down my arm and staining my jacket."
"Trust me, it's true. It's worse than it looks. I don't think you're gonna need stitches like Santana here as it's just a graze but it might scar."
Brittany shrugged and looked up at Santana as Mia pulled on a fresh pair of purple latex gloves. "Now we match."
"Unfortunately."
Mia watched from the corner of her eye as Brittany pressed a soft kiss to Santana's knuckles before interrupting. "Hold onto something tight, this is gonna sting."
Immediately Brittany's hand found Santana's, gripping hard as she prepared herself for the oncoming pain. Santana squeezed back and Brittany had to restrain herself from yelling out cuss after cuss words as Mia dabbed at the wound. Now she suddenly didn't blame Santana so much for yelling out that night she'd been shot in the arm at the scrapyard. It was much more than a sting. If this was what it felt like getting grazed in the arm she couldn't imagine what it felt like being shot in the shoulder and the gut both at the same time. Now she had a new found understanding of just what pain Santana had experienced.
"Holy shit that hurt." She panted, Mia smirking as she watched Brittany let her head fall to rest against Santana's t-shirt clad stomach.
"See, I wasn't lying." Santana husked, kissing the top of her head.
"I understand now."
"The worst is over. I've cleaned it and I just have to dress it. Make sure to clean and re-dress it regularly and I'll check it in a few days."
"It makes a change for Santana to be the one not getting shot at for once." Holly grinned as they all stood around the new car.
The Latina rolled her eyes and placed an arm around Brittany's waist, pulling her in close. "Yeah yeah. T, you wanna pop the hood on this thing?"
The Asian woman grinned. "It would be my pleasure."
Taking a step forward she worked on pulling up the hood, everybody else crowded around the car in anticipation for what was inside it. There were multiple gasps as Tina took a step back to stand next to Marley, everybody taken aback at the sight before them.
"It's..."
"Beautiful." Tina finished for her girlfriend.
Mia smiled. "It's practically done, all the hard work just doesn't exist."
"Yeah which means only a few tweaks. Unless Tina wants anything else added?"
Looking over at Santana Tina shrugged. "I don't know. I'd have to go through it with you but it's pretty much already done from what I can see. Only a few tweaks here and there and some precision tuning and we'll be done."
"What about paint?"
"I'll think it over."
Santana nodded in response. "Ok then, we'll go through it first thing next week."
"Good plan. I don't think there's really anything more we can do right now. Let's go home señoras. It's been a long night. Take it easy Britt."
Brittany smiled in response to her crew leader and everybody started dispersing towards their cars. Santana helped her back into the RX8 and slipped back into the driver's seat, clipping herself into the race harness before starting up the car. She had a girlfriend to look after.
"Hey how's your arm?" Santana asked as she entered the room, slipping off her jacket and putting on her glasses. She'd just made a Sunday run for some groceries they were in dire need of.
Brittany smiled over at her girlfriend with a shrug. "It hurts."
Santana nodded and rounded the bed until she was on the empty side, her side, and sat down. She pulled off her shoes and then disappeared into their now-shared closet before reappearing in a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt. Sliding into the warm bed next to her girlfriend she smiled.
"Let me have a look."
Brittany did as she instructed, turning around so that she could look but seeing the opportunity that arose she took it, confusing Santana as she suddenly moved from her current spot. She grinned at the look on Santana's face now that she was on her lap.
"San...are you there?"
"Oh..." She muttered, shaking her head. "Yeah, sorry."
Brittany grinned and lent forwards, placing a kiss to the end of her nose and pushing up her glasses with the end of her pointer finger.
"Easier?"
"Much. Hmm..."
"What is it?"
"I don't think the bandages are gonna need changing. Just take it easy and try not to knock or bump it against anything and you should be ok."
"You know you're becoming an expert on getting shot right?"
"Yeah, unfortunately."
"Hey, it's ok. At least it wasn't you this time."
"Yeah but you got shot instead. You got hurt."
Brittany could see the vulnerability in Santana's eyes and directed her gaze so that they were looking directly at each other. "Santana, cariño, it was just a graze. I'm fine, I'm still here."
"Yeah but-"
"If I wasn't I wouldn't be able to do this."
Instead of giving Santana time to respond she cut her off with her lips, her eyes immediately falling closed as she pulled the Latina close by the back of her neck. For a few silent moments they let their lips languidly move against one another, their breathing heavy as they continued to deprive each other of precious air as they kissed, unable to pull away from the other's intoxicating lips.
When they did however, Santana let her forehead fall against her girlfriends, enjoying how Brittany's fingers felt as they danced across the base of her neck. She sighed contently, her eyes still closed as her hands continued to grip tightly at the other woman's waist.
"You know you're sneaky right?"
Brittany snorted quietly, a smile tugging at her lips as she angled her head upwards so that she could place a kiss to a tan forehead. "Hmm, yeah but you love it." She was jolted out of her blissful haze and the next minute she found herself laying on her back, Santana between her legs as she hovered over her. "You work fast."
Santana laughed as she bowed down and placed a kiss to Brittany's jaw along with a following cursory nip. "I don't see you complaining." She grinned as she mumbled against her jaw and felt long toned legs wrap around her waist tightly.
"I'm not."
"Good, and by the way I love how sneaky you are."
Santana felt Brittany's laugh as she rested her mouth against her neck, the sound reverberating pleasantly. "Bien."
"Did I also mention how much I loved you speaking Spanish?"
"I'm learning."
"And it's paying off."
"How so?" Brittany smirked, already knowing the answer but asking out loud anyway.
"You know exactly what it does to me. I do just have one question though..."
"Tell me."
Santana pulled back from where she had been nipping at her pulse point to look down and directly into her eyes. "How do you feel about having a lazy Sunday in bed?"
Brittany grinned, her hands coming up to rest around her girlfriend's neck pulling her close. "If by 'lazy Sunday in bed' you mean what I think you mean then I'm in one hundred and ten percent. Vaya por delante, hacer el amor conmigo."
She swore she could have heard the Latina moan quietly at her use of Spanish, thoughts that were only confirmed when she felt colloused but strong tan hands gripping at her bare things and tugging up around her waist. Yeah, she definitely got the reaction she had been looking for. She silently thanked whatever God that was listening for giving them an entire house to themselves.
"So what's left?"
Marley looked up from where she was sat on a crate taking a break from working staring at the car in front of her. "Just paint and final fitting."
Santana looked at the Shelby and then back at the other woman. "Mind if I join?"
"No, go ahead." She watched as Santana made herself comfortable on a stray empty crate next to her. "Where's Brittany?"
"She went to get lunch from Shelby's." The Latina replied, Marley watching as she took a sip of her energy drink.
"So you're waiting for food?"
"Yep so I came to check up on what was going on. Tina out getting food for you two?"
"Yep."
"So, what is going on with this?"
"It's ready to go to paint. I was gonna call up Kurt so we could get it over there and put down the base before the end of the day."
"Quinn came through on the bodykit?"
"She did. Better than I expected."
"In what way?"
"She just came through. I thought she was gonna go crazy you know, adding a full kit but she didn't Instead she came halfway between barely anything to full modification. She said that way it's easier for her to, and I quote, 'fix any problems my reckless ass creates' which is usually all the time."
Santana laughed loudly. "Yeah, that sounds like Q."
"It does. I will admit, I'm glad she made it easier for herself. Don't know what kinds of crazy situations I'm gonna get up to in this thing."
"Me either and a strange part of me somewhere deep down both wants to see it and not see it."
Marley watched as Santana chuckled before taking another gulp of her energy drink. "On a serious note though..."
"Ok..."
"I wouldn't have been able to even think about those situations if it weren't for you. My Camaro is great and all but seriously, the fact that this is Jake's Shelby makes it all the more sweeter when I think about all of the ways I can block other guys out on the streets so you guys can cross the line in first."
"Well, for that I'm honoured."
"For that you should be, even more so."
"What do you mean?"
Marley shrugged. "I know when you look at this car you think about that night, which I don't blame you for, but you continue to put your all into it to get it back on the street so that I can race with it knowing my history with him. I appreciate you putting your feelings aside for me, to me that means a hell of a lot more than having the balls to block someone else with your car putting your own life at risk. Feelings aren't easy, I have respect that you had the balls to put your personal opinion on this to the side for the sake of the crew."
There was a beat of silence before Santana spoke in response. "Anyone would think you're giving an inspirational speech. Any reason for this?"
Marley shrugged. "I don't know. I just figured that now I had you alone and after you got my girlfriend one of the most badass cars to hit the streets of Lima you deserved it. I've been waiting for a while actually."
"What for?"
"To thank you without anybody else around. You know, this kind of stuffs private. I figured you wouldn't want anybody else listening in on our conversation."
"I appreciate the thought. It means a lot."
Marley nodded. "There is one more thing though..."
"Oh..."
"Don't worry, it's nothing bad."
"Ok, what is it?"
Marley turned to face her completely so that they were looking at one another directly and smiled. "I forgive you Santana. I've wanted to say it for a while now, I just haven't got the chance what with you stealing all these cars and everything. You know, you're a girl that likes to move fast."
Santana chuckled. "I guess I do like to move fast. Thank you."
"I'm the one that should be thanking you but you're welcome. Here, bring it in Lopez."
Santana grinned along with the other brunette and let her pull her in for a tight hug. Marley's declaration was unexpected but then again when was anything that she ever did expected? Santana was just thankful, she'd managed to make it up to another person that she really cared about. She just hoped she'd be able to keep the ball rolling.
"What's going on in that tech nerd brain of yours?"
Tina looked up from her iPad to see Santana holding a parts catalogue in one hand and a small notebook in the other. "Many things, many car things."
"Mind if I ask what those things are?" She asked, popping the hood of the Evo and placing her book and her catalogue off to the side.
The Asian woman shrugged. "How I'm gonna handle that thing?"
"What do you mean?"
"I don't know how I'm gonna manage. Someone like you or Dani maybe but not me."
"You're telling me that you don't think you can do it?"
"Yeah, pretty much."
"Why?"
"Because it's the truth. It's no secret that most of you are better driver's than me, even my own girlfriend."
"Can I suggest something?"
"Ok..."
"Don't listen to yourself."
Tina frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Don't listen to your brain, most of the time I find that it's telling you lies. I know this might sound cheesy but what is your heart telling you about this car?"
"I don't know."
"Come on, really think about it."
There was a brief silence as Tina stood up, moving over to Santana as she considered her words. "It's telling me that this is the best chance I'm ever gonna get."
"To get better?"
"That's exactly what I'm feeling."
"Well then, there you go."
"But how did you know?"
Santana shrugged as she propped herself up against the car, her arms folding across her chest. "Instinct. I've been there before, every racer has, this is just the moment when you realise you've either gotta step your game up or become a coward. Harsh I know but it's the truth."
"No, I understand. To be honest I've been thinking about it for a while."
"Let me guess, the day I got shot was the day everything changed?"
"Yeah, for everybody. We all had that 'wake up' moment. I guess I've been putting it off until now but now I've got a car it's like all that doubt has come back up to the surface."
"Understandable. How do you feel about it?"
"Honestly, after seeing you and Brittany drift and absolutely kill it, especially in the car that was gonna be mine, I just want to be better. I just don't know how."
"Because it's hard to ask for help, especially when your crew is supposed to be the city-wide example of premium quality driving."
"Yeah."
"What do you wanna do?"
"I wanna learn."
"You want some help?"
"Are you offering?"
Santana shrugged. "Maybe. You want my help?"
Tina paused briefly, considering Santana's offer. "Ok but will Britt help too?"
"Sure, if you want her to. I'm sure if you ask her too she won't be against sharing a few tips."
"Thank you."
"No problem."
"You know, I've always been kinda shy when it comes to this stuff. Most of the time people think I'm the tech nerd of the crew who sits behind a computer screen all day and just drives because the rest of her crew pity's her."
"I'm sure that's not true."
"It's not but it's what people assume."
"T, if there's one thing I've learned so far in my life it's that it's better to ignore what people assume as long as you know the truth and what's right."
"That's easier said than done."
"I know but it takes time. One day you'll be able to ignore all that chatter and be fully confident of yourself. Trust me, if I hadn't have I wouldn't have survived being shot twice and left to die. It took it out of me mentally but because I'd learned to ignore the judgement I survived. I'm not saying you have to turn cold and hurt the people you love but I am saying that if you want a thicker skin you're best to start with something that makes you feel confident."
"Like what?"
"You tell me. What makes you feel strong like nobody can touch you?"
"Driving."
"There you go. Simple as that. Now, anything in particular?" Tina shrugged. "Come on, there must be something."
Tina paused, Santana watching out of the corner of her eye as she kicked at the stray gravel of the garage floor with her Converse-clad foot. "There is one thing..."
"Go on, you can tell me."
"I like scouting."
"As in finding shortcuts?"
"Yeah. It's just that I don't feel as if I'm good enough at it."
"And that's where me and Brittany come in?"
"Yes."
"Ok, you know it's hard to find good scouts these days right? Crews are always looking for good spotters, it's what wins races."
"Exactly. That's why I don't feel as if I'm good enough."
"Because there's a lot of pressure on scouts these days to pull off miracles as the races get harder and more complex."
"Exactly. That's why when you and Brittany drove in sync with one another out of the docks on the run from the police the other day I realised that if our crew is gonna be better than Puck's here on the streets of Lima and out in the desert at Race Wars I need to step up my game."
"Well then, you answered your own question."
"Wait, I did?"
At Tina's confused frown Santana laughed loudly and reached over to clap her on the shoulder. "You did my friend. You wanted something that made you strong, that helped you ignore what other people assumed – you just found it. You practise your scout skills, make yourself the best in this city and anywhere else for that matter, you'll both be feared and respected whenever you get behind the wheel. That starts with this car. It's race tuned, more or less ready to hit the streets, all you have to do is learn how to drive it. It won't be easy but if you put in the time from now leading up to Race Wars you guys are gonna have another weapon Puck and the rest of his crew never saw coming."
"And you'd be willing do help me?"
"Sure, why not? It's not like I do anything other than tinkering in my spare time. I'm sure I could free up my schedule."
Tina laughed before sobering a little, her gaze switching between Santana, the car, and back to the Latina again. "Thank you Santana."
"No problem."
"I mean it. No one's ever put it into perspective like that. I appreciate it."
Santana shrugged. "It was nothing really. You did something for me, you cleared my name with that recording, it's about time I returned the favor."
Tina smiled and pulled her in for a hug, Santana happily excepting it.
Santana made her way out of the gate that led to the driveway with two sodas in hand and spotted her girlfriend slid under her RX8 tweaking something.
"Hey babe. You should be taking it easy with your arm."
Brittany rolled out and looked up at her girlfriend who was stood only a couple of feet away. "I'm ok."
"Britt-"
"Santana, I'm taking it easy I promise."
"So working on your car is taking easy? You get enough of putting stress on it at work and you're only adding to it. Letty gave us the afternoon off for a reason."
"I know but I want to be good, or at least even a fraction of what you are."
Santana knew she was referring to her skill. Ever since she had taken Brittany under her wing the blonde had been pushing herself to learn everything that Santana taught her and that included putting in extra hours under the hood whenever she could.
"You can take your time on that, there's no rush."
"I know, maybe not to you but to me there is."
"Ok, why?" The Latina asked, pulling up the folding lawn chair and sitting down on it before handing the other woman one of the chilled cans of soda.
"Because..."
"That doesn't help Britt."
She sighed, Santana seeing her deflate as she opened up her drink. "I want to be better."
There was a brief waver in the conversation as the gears started to turn in Santana's head. "I get it."
"Wait, you do?"
Santana nodded. "It's Cassandra isn't it?"
"San..."
"I told you Britt, I didn't want you on a war path with her. I only just got you back, I don't want to lose you again, especially not to her. It will only end up with one or both of us getting hurt."
"I know..."
"But you want to be strong so that I don't see you as weak. I don't Britt, I've never seen you as weak. I've seen you become stronger since the moment I met you. That's not going to change. No amount of car tuning in the world is going to prepare you for what happens at Race Wars with her. We're all taking a risk, all I ask is that you prepare mentally instead."
"So it doesn't matter?"
"Not so much as it does mentally. I care about what's going on in your head Britt, not your car. It's good enough as it is, you don't need it to defeat Cassandra. We'll do that together."
"You're sure?"
"Of course. Just take it easy ok? If there's anyone that knows better it's me. I've been through it enough to know when to take it easy."
Brittany nodded and knelt up, crawling over to the Latina. Her hands now free of her soda can she pried Santana's jean-clad legs open and situated herself between them. She smiled up at her and Santana lent down to press a soft kiss to her lips. Sighing contently she wrapped her arms around her waist and let her head rest against her stomach, feeling Santana's arms coming down to rest around her shoulders securely. She was right, she had been overcompensating via her car but after hearing it come from Santana's mouth Brittany knew that she wasn't in it alone, Santana would be right by her side and even though they were going to beat her behind the wheel the sweetest victory over Cassandra would be locking her in handcuffs and watching her being driven away in the back of a police car.
TBC