A/N: Trigger warning for mild violence.

Chapter 3

Phoenix stuffed her hands in the pockets of her long coat, the chill in the air biting at her fingers. She had just had a meeting with her new landlord, sealed the deal on a new truck and was walking back home now, after grabbing a quick bite to eat since it was quite late.

Involuntarily, every other minute, Phoenix's mind would be filled with thoughts and musings about one Brittany Pierce. She couldn't help but think about the blonde, dying to know more about her, even the littlest things like her favorite color or her favorite book.

She was amazed that it only took one look and a couple of words from a single person to re-light the spark that had died inside her so many years ago. She felt alive again, a feeling she thought that she had forgotten all about.

It was like Brittany was an angel sent from heaven, only to save her.

And the cheerleader had done it single handedly, in only a few seconds.

A foolish grin graced Phoenix's features as her mind went into overdrive, already craving the arrival of Monday morning and the chance to see Brittany again. Maybe her move to Lima, with the desperate need for change, was a good decision after all.

Maybe, just maybe, she could finally live again.

Phoenix was just a couple of minutes away from her building, approaching the corner of the road, humming softly to herself, looking forward to her warm bed.

"N-no," came a broken whimper.

Phoenix froze, halting her steps as she looked up for the source of that heart wrenching sound.

"Let g-go...get off!"

Phoenix's eyes widened as she heard the broken cry, immediately running around the corner, looking right and left into the alleyways. She gasped when she saw the sight in front of her, hidden in the shadows of the alleyway, clenching her fists.

"Sweetie, no one can hear you. It's best you keep quiet and enjoy this," a deep voice says.

A large, burly man had a petite blonde pressed up against the wall, one hand holding her hands still, the other firmly gripping her jaw. As the blonde struggled in his grasp, trying to move, the streetlight fell on her face for a split second, making Phoenix's eyes widen in recognition, anger flaring inside her like an uncontainable flame.

Quinn Fabray.

"Let her go!" Phoenix yelled, the man looking up in alarm at the interruption before he smirked when he saw who it was.

"Oh, another one," He chuckles darkly, letting go of Quinn - who crumbled to her feet and curled away from him - before walking towards Phoenix, "At least you seem feisty, the blonde is too easy, no fi-"

The man can't even complete his sentence before Phoenix's fist connects with his face, one hand holding on to his collar as she relentlessly attacked him, punch after punch. He struggled against her grip, but to no avail, Phoenix not even affected by his attempts at retaliation. Finally, the redhead stopped her attack, pushing him backwards, shaking her hand, cold air whipping against bruised knuckles.

"You little bitch," The man gasped, holding his broken nose, rage and shame evident on his bruised and battered face.

He staggers forward to get his hands on Phoenix in return, but the redhead's reflexes are lighting quick. She punches him in the stomach three times, before kneeing him in the balls, making him yelp in pain. Before he even has time to process anything, Phoenix gets a firm grip on his shoulders and effortlessly throws him against a dumpster nearby, metal clanging loudly as his heavy body crashed against it.

The man cowers away, moving to the side and scrambling to his feet before quickly running out of the alley when he saw the blazing anger in emerald eyes. He was ashamed that he was running away from a girl half his size, but he valued his life more than his pride.

With his face broken, his ribs aching and not to mention, a horrible limp, his ego wasn't the only thing that was bruised whereas all Phoenix had suffered were slightly bruised knuckles.

The redhead's eyes narrowed when she saw the man scrambling away, getting ready to chase after him and giving him exactly what he deserved, but she stopped when a broken sob snapped her back to reality.

Phoenix spun around, her heart breaking when she saw Quinn on the ground, her knees pulled to her chest, her entire being shaking as violent sobs rocked her body. Phoenix quickly rushed over to the blonde, removing her coat off as she got down on her knees next to Quinn, gently putting her hands on her shaking shoulders.

"Shhh, Quinn, it's me, it's Phoenix. You're safe now, he's gone," Phoenix whispers reassuringly, wrapping her coat around Quinn's body as teary, hazel-eyes met hers.

"Ph-Phoenix?" Quinn stutters, recognition flickering in her eyes.

"Yeah, it's me," Phoenix says softly, rubbing Quinn's arms over her coat to warm the blonde.

"O-oh my god, I'm so so-rry, you...see me-e...wh-what...the ba-baby...b-big mist-stake..." Quinn mumbles incoherently, unable to get any words out as tears streamed down her face, breaking Phoenix's heart.

"Shhh, Quinn...you don't have to say anything," Phoenix says soothingly, hooking one arm under Quinn's knees and the other behind her back and getting on to her feet, effortlessly cradling the blonde like a baby.

Quinn sobbed violently in Phoenix's arms, burying her face against the redhead's body, tightly clutching her shirt in her fist.

Quinn was cuddled in the arms of someone who was practically a stranger she knew nothing about.

She had never felt safer and more protected in her entire life.

"Take a deep breath Quinn, relax, you're safe now," Phoenix says softly, walking out of the alley and towards her apartment that was just a little distance away, tightly holding Quinn in her arms, who was clinging to her like a broken child.

"I've got you Quinn. You're safe. I've got you now," Phoenix whispers, a silent promise in her voice, kissing the top of Quinn's head, who was slowly, but steadily, calming down.