A/N: Still not owning Glee. Went to see the film last night... the concert was better, and no-one in my cinema was singing. Gutted.
Anyhow, another chapter for you, we're nearing the end, but I wish you enjoyment with this one and I also wish for reviews :)
Rachel heard a soft sobbing as she entered the bathroom.
"Santana?" She called out gently.
Halfway down the stalls a door swung open to reveal the sight of Santana in the mirror. She was pale and drawn with the remnants of thick black mascara dotted around her eyes. She dabbed carefully at the tears under her eyes but remained seated on top of the toilet lid.
Rachel made her way down to Santana's cubicle and crouched down in front of her. She bit her lip.
"I've got news for you. Sam's awake. How good is that?" She smiled encouragingly and took Santana's hand in hers, squeezing it gently.
Santana swallowed thickly and said, "Are you serious?"
"Yep, Mr Schue just got a call from his mother. He woke up this morning but they didn't want to tell anyone until they confirmed the severity of his condition."
Santana eyed her warily and said, "And?"
"He's going to be fine." Rachel grinned. "He's got to stay in bed for a couple of days longer, but he should be allowed to get up and about after that. Which means he can come and watch Noah and I next week on WOHN, how great? We won by the way."
"Congrats," Santana smiled wearily.
"He has a broken leg so he'll have to stay in a wheelchair for the time being, but he probably would have had to anyway because he's got some quite serious bruising on his ribs. But he's going to be fine Santana." She repeated, smiling warmly.
"That's good," Santana whispered hoarsely and walked out of the stall to wipe her eyes of fresh tears, in the dirty mirror on the wall in front of her.
"Santana?" asked Rachel cautiously, "Do you remember what we said about when Sam woke up?"
Santana nodded gravely, not saying anything.
"That you'll turn yourself in?" prompted Rachel
Santana nodded again, more determinedly.
"Okay, so Noah's going to drive us to the station this afternoon and we'll come in with you for when you do it, alright?"
"Yep," said Santana, in a strained voice, swallowing thickly.
"Alright then." Rachel concluded, and she took the tissue from Santana to dab her eyes tenderly.
xxx
They sat in the cold waiting room, Puck and Rachel flanking Santana on either side, holding one of her palms. Santana gulped nervously and Rachel responded automatically by clutching her hand tightly and pressing it encouragingly.
"Santana Lopez?" called out the receptionist beckoning her over.
Puck waited behind as Rachel took her to the woman's window.
"How can I help you today?" asked the receptionist, her eyes roving over her tearstained face.
"I need to talk to someone about a hit and run case, it's of Sam Evans." She said quietly.
"Right." The receptionist said shortly and she turned away to use the telephone. "If you just want to go through these double doors" She pointed at them, "Someone will meet you on the other side. Your friend needs to stay here." She said, looking at Rachel.
Rachel nodded and pushed Santana gently towards the doors, smiling reassuringly as she disappeared through them.
She returned to Santana's empty chair beside Puck and sighed heavily.
"This is one of the hardest things I've ever had to do." She said, staring at the blank wall in front of her, not looking at Puck.
"I know, I know." He said, rubbing her back hearteningly, "But imagine how hard it is for Santana. She doesn't need you cracking up."
"You're so right." Rachel smiled softly and looked at him.
"I always am." He said half laughing.
She put her head on his shoulder and sighed, "I guess all we can do is wait."
"All we can do is wait." He repeated, continuing to rub her back.
They sat in silence for another couple of hours, not breaking contact once, whether Rachel would lay her head on his shoulder, or they would grip hands tightly, just so they could feel something between them. Puck sighed and played with the ends of her hair tenderly and absent-mindedly. As soon as all this was over, he vowed to give her a proper relationship like she deserved; he would never let darkness like this into her life ever again. He glanced at her and noticed she was sleeping restfully on his shoulder, her eyes shut tightly and her mouth pursed delicately. She seemed like a little china doll, precious and delicate and above all else, beautiful.
A noise made him look up directly to the double doors. Santana was emerging through them, her face void of visible emotions. She thanked the man who had led her back out and made her way over to them. Puck gently shook Rachel awake and whispered,
"Rach, Santana's back."
xxx
"San," She said, sitting up with a start and taking the Latina girl's hand in her own, "How did it go?"
"Fine." Santana replied shortly, rubbing her hand over her eyes. "They revoked my license and I have to pay an $800 fine, but at least I'm not going to jail."
"Exactly," said Puck, knocking her softly on the arm, "That's the spirit."
She raised her eyebrows and gave him a pointed look before smiling and nodding. "I suppose you're right."
"I always am." He laughed and stood up to hug her.
Rachel followed suit and they made their way out of the police station.
"Shall I drive?" Santana joked half-heartedly.
"Ha-ha…" said Rachel, grinning at her.
"To be honest, I don't think I'd really want to drive any more. I've had to in the past few weeks since the accident but every time I got in the car I felt sick and terrified. It'll be a nice break not to have that on me."
"I thought we could go and see Sam, maybe?" Puck said, walking to his truck and opening the door for the girls.
"Sound good to me." Santana said in a strained voice, sighing deeply.
They pulled up to his house, Santana clutching a bunch of flowers she had forced Puck to stop for. She rang the doorbell hesitantly and looked over her shoulder to see Rachel nodding encouragingly.
The door swung open and Santana sucked in her breath. Sam's mother smiled in recognition at the two others and said,
"Rachel, Noah, how are you both? Hi, I don't think we've met…?" She extended her hand to Santana, who gripped it tightly and swallowed,
"Santana. Lopez. It's nice to meet you. How are you doing?"
"We're doing well, thank you for asking. These flowers are beautiful; I'll take them through to Sam, if you just want to come this way."
She led them through the house to the living room where Sam was lounging on the sofa, his broken leg in a pot, stretched out in front of him.
"Hey you guys!" He cried, his face lighting up when he saw them.
Santana shut her eyes for a moment and smiled, saying in a cracked voice,
"Hey Sam… how are you feeling?"
"A lot better, thank you, a bit achy and frustrated at my lack of mobility, but I'm out of any permanent danger so that's good."
Before Puck or Rachel could say anything Santana pressed on.
"I have to tell you something." She said, sitting down on the sofa beside him.
He looked at her confusedly and motioned for her to continue.
She swallowed. "It was me. I hit you. I am so, so sorry for what I did Sam and I turned myself into the police and they revoked my license and fined me, but that can't make up at all for the pain I've caused you."
He sat in silence for a moment before saying,
"Don't worry about it Santana. You've paid your dues. I can see it in your eyes how hurt you are. I'm going to be fine so you don't need to worry about that, or me. Besides, it's Puckerman's fault."
"What?" Puck shouted, opening his mouth in shock. "You shut your little trouty mouth right now, Evans."
"See, if you'd just stopped with the mouth jokes in the first place, we wouldn't be here right now Puckerman."
Puck ran a hand through his Mohawk and said, "I suppose you're right. Sorry about that dude. I'll quit it."
"Do." Sam smiled shortly.
"Listen," Rachel said, walking over to sit on the arm of the sofa behind Sam, "We won Mr Schue's little competition and Noah and I will be performing on WOHN News 8 next week. We'd love it if you were there to watch?"
"I wouldn't miss it for the world," Sam grinned squeezing her hand.
"Right, I'd better get these two home. Good to see you man, get better soon." Puck knocked fists with Sam and they waved him goodbye.
Santana stopped in the doorway of the house at the last moment.
"Mrs Evans," She murmured, "A foundation at school has been collecting money for Sam, and this is our result. We hope that this will help even a little bit towards his hospital funds."
"Thank you, so much Santana." Mrs Evans clutched the envelope that Santana had just handed her tightly and beamed. "We're so very grateful."
Santana ducked out the door and shot a smile over her shoulder as she turned to walk away from the house.
Want more? R/Rx