This is a long ass chapter. I hope you don't mind because i couldn't bring myself to cut it in half. I also hope you like it :)
Chapter 5 - Rise and Shine.
It's not even 5 am when Karofsky calls me.
"Tana, we've got a situation. I'm at the 74th and Broadway. Please hurry."
I ran to the scene after dressing something that was already on top of the couch, I'm ain't no Stana Katic, I don't have to look flawless in murder scenes. I find nothing glamorous about them. My aviators are everything that keeps people from finding out how I couldn't sleep last night. I'm on my second cup of coffee already, I either make it through the day or I'll pass out of exhaustion in less than 2 hours.
After I enter the room, I feel stupid for thinking i'd have trouble staying awake. He/she decided to get creative. The girl is hanging from the ceiling with hooks digged deep on the skin of her back. She's wearing a ballerina suit and on her livid face a Black Swan-like make up.
On the Wall behind the bed you can read written in black ink: Nobody is Perfect. Someone didn't like the Aronofski movie, or loved it way too much. I'm trying to get a motive from all this circus but I can't. Is this a sort of homage? Of course that the first thing I thought that someone got pissed for not getting in on Julliard or something. But this kinky shit, it goes beyond the past 3 murders. The others were simple slit throats, in this one the death cause appears to be the same. I wonder if those hooks were placed before or after she died.I guess I'll have to wait for Artie to do his magic in the lab.
I analyze the writings on the Wall, they gave me Seven feels. Not seven the number but Seven the movie. That makes two movie references in the same crime scene, what is this guy? Or girl, i'm being biased here.
I look at Dave who looks hopeless as Blaine helps the crime lab investigators take the corpse down.
"Could this case become any weirder?!"
"Tell me about it." I'm chewing on a blueberry muffin while I'm talking to him.
"How can you eat here? Isn't there some sort of regulation?" He argues with me but I can't bother to reply as I normally would.
"You said as fast as I could. When you say fast, I never have breakfast. Take it as a special treatment, nobody keeps me from my food besides you." – I take a final sip into my cup and throw it on the garbage outside the room. I notice my surroundings. Is this even her apartment? This doesn't look like the place for one like her, that's for sure, but rents are high these days. Maybe she was new at it.
I look at the clock and it's almost 8am, time flies when there's a serial killer on the loose. If I was home lying awake thinking about Britt it would be 5.30 yet.
Is it wierd that thinking about her calms my bad morning temper? I don't really do mornings well but thinking about her helps me out a little.
I need to get to the station and try to see what can possibly this swan have to do with the rest of the puzzle.
I need to see the pictures of the other crime scenes and look for movie references. Two can play this game Mr. Murderer, I'm quite a film buff. One thing is for sure, this person is detail oriented. I'm only sorry we mistaken him for a regular type of killer. There's more to him, but the more you show, the more i can find about he's/she's whereabouts, education, background and the follow his/hers pattern of thought.
This is a game of chess and I must play it with less then 3 hours of sleep and a blonde to make my mind fuzzy.
For the first time since she was born, I'm glad Laura isn't home tonight, I know I'll look and feel like a zombie by dinner time even if i will probably not have dinner. The faster I get this over with, the faster I can rest.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH"
"Tana, you really should go home." Blaine says in his collected voice from the other side of the office. We're the only two living souls in the building so even if he says it in his normal tone I can hear it at my desk in the opposite side.
"I'm going home to think about this shit. Might as well leave the shit in its natural habitat, don't you think?"
"Even if I can see your point, I would really love for you to go home. This isn't your case, yet."
"Yet. You are playing on a technicality, it's not my fault that the chief said start on Monday, she obviously filled the docs yesterday."
"Because you were supposed to have the weekend off, for yourself. Don't you have somewhere to be?" He whines, turning on his chair.
He is referring to the frequent buzz my phone has made for the past hour. Yes, it's her... but she started it.
Brittany: Hey.
Santana: Hey. Did you had a nice day?
Brittany: It depends. I guess it would be nice if last night hadn't been so awesome. Now, it looks kind of bleak.
Santana: What was it about last night? The overuse of poncho's or the ruined songs? My day sucked, thank you for asking. :P
Brittany: Sorry for being so insensitive. I guessed sleeping all day wouldn't be such a burden. Ps: neither. The only latin thing there made me enjoy it. And Jewfro's talent.
Santana: No sleep for me. I had to work. Ps: you speak of talent, but I think I missed it.
Brittany: his talent to make you laugh, that's what I meant. And what a wonderful laugh you have. Sorry about work, something bad happened?
Santana: Nothing for you to worry about. My laugh? Well you owned it more than him, but i'm glad you liked it. Here I was wondering that you only wanted me for my body.
Brittany: It's mostly that. Are you still at work?
What now? Santana thought, the bantering was really sweet but was really unhelpful for her work.
Santana: Yes. Just wrapping up.
Brittany: Meet me outside in 15 minutes. I know where you work.
Santana: That didn't make you sound like a creep…at all. Should I take my gun?
Brittany: No, just your appetite. Sam says you barely eat when you are worried.
Santana: Speaking behind my back, hey?
Brittany: No, just something he said when he asked me to go out with you guys yesterday. I would never.
Santana: Sorry, I'm a little on edge. You'll do me good.
Brittany: Oh you have no idea. See you in a bit. Xoxo
That last message was received 10 minutes ago. Blaine was right, if I didn't wanted to keep her waiting I'd have to leave now.
"How did you know?"
"About what?" Blaine said looking at files on his desk not bothering to look up. It was for the best, I didn't want him to notice how blushed I am.
"About me having somewhere to be?"
He gives me a corner of a smile and he faces me. He has this "gotcha" face he always gives me, when he notices something I don't.
"You really need to stop thinking aloud when you write messages. Whoever that is deserves a) an apology, b) a nicer Santana than I've been dealing all day and c) a kiss. Well that last one is for you because you really need to keep that mind away from this if you want to get some sleep, Poirot."
God, I hate him. He's such a smart ass.
"FINE. Goodnight."
"Have a pleasant evening Santana." He almost sings it, how Kurt bears him I'll never know.
I spend my time in the elevator trying to look more composed. I had a better-looking sweater in my locker, and I try to do my make up on my way down. I'm frustrated and irritated beyond normal, the lack of sleep is starting to show on my mood even if I manage to hide it in my face.
I don't look my best, I look like someone who spend all day working but I guess she already knows that.
I ran outside the door and only stop by the edge of the sidewalk, I check my watch and look around the street but I don't see a soul. I furrow my eyebrows and look down to my feet, I just noticed I'm wearing sneakers. I hope this isn't a date. There's nothing wrong with black converse, right?
"Hey, stranger." The voice comes behind me and I turn around to see her staring at me. She's wearing pretty casual clothes and a trench coat. Just on queue I feel raindrops falling in my cheeks. She's leaning on the wall and now I get why. It's raining, it probably rained all day and I didn't even noticed.
"It's raining." I say, annoyed. She giggles when I state the obvious and she comes forth opening an umbrella.
"You sound surprised. For how long were you in there?" She places the umbrella on top of both of us so it covers me as well. I probably should have moved but I guess I forgot how beautiful she was. It makes no sense, I spent all day thinking about her, how could have I forgotten?
"All day. Since 6am actually." I stutter. I think I haven't stuttered since I was eighteen. Her long blonde curls look like she came out of the hairdresser, how is it possible? She just told me it's been raining all day and yesterday she told me she didn't have a car. I think I'm staring. Shit.
"Come on, you must be starving." She offers the arm that is holding the umbrella and I hold it. She tells me we are going to this dinner she knows. They have the best burgers ever, she says and I snort. No, they don't. This one I know has them, I always go there when I'm on stake outs. We keep up the bickering for a while, it's fun. She's fun. And beautiful. The most adorable girl ever. I'm only keeping up talking so I can hear her voice and I'm being snappy so I can hear her get offended and talk longer. My bad humour is all gone and i'm totally light-headed now. I'm blaming it on the lack of food. It has nothing to do with the fact that her perfume is my favourite scent ever. Maybe it's her shampoo, maybe it's the way her clothes smell. Either way it's pleasant or absorbing or even…what's the thing they always say in the books? Intoxicating…
"San, San?" I snap out of it. She's saying my name, better yet, she has a nickname for me and it's sweet. Everybody calls me Tana. This could be her thing…what am I thinking about?
"Hum, yeah?" I notice now that we are standing in the middle of the street. It's pouring now and the shoulder on the outer side is now getting soaked. She's been taking the rain to keep me dry.
"We are here" she giggles and I swear it's the most amazing sound.
"But this is the place I was talking about, with the best burgers!"
"So was I, YOU were the one who assumed it was somewhere else" She's got a point and I don't want to argue so I get in and keep the door open for her while she closes the umbrella.
After burgers and fries and coke and coffee and all that is unhealthy I can't stop laughing. My face hurts and i'm crying. She's really funny, she's ridiculously funny and she's innocent. She says stuff I'm not expecting because she has a totally different line of thought than everybody I know.
At first I didn't know if she was the wisest person I've ever met or the dumbest. I decided to go to the first and all she's being saying proves I was right. She has an amazing insight.
"So, dead people." She wriggles her eyebrows on me.
"Yeah, what you wanna know about it?"
"Actually, I want to know why you decided to do that. I just can't imagine someone so beautiful dealing with the most ugly part of civilization."
I blush and I don't even try to hide it. She said it, she has the right to know how it affects me. Judging that smile plastered on her face she's enjoying herself immensely.
"Well… I want to catch the bad guys, to keep them out the street. It helps me with this fear I have that something bad might happen to the people I love. I can't stop it from happening but I can sure as hell make it harder for those bastards to get their way."
"I guess that makes sense. I was just looking forward in seeing you in uniform" And she winks at me. Who does that, seriously?
"Aham.. well that might be a bit hard since I only wear it to special occasions."
"Like you getting a medal or something."
"Yes, something like that." Of course, there's funerals as well but i'm not going to ruin the mood when this cute girl keeps flirting shamelessly with me.
"You must be very serious, very thorough. I'd hate to be a bad guy on one of your cases"
"Well, I try to be pretty mean to them."
"See, that I can't imagine. "
"You've been lucky so far…"
"That you have a thing for blondes?" I raise an eyebrow. Do I have a thing for blondes?
"Actually, I don't think I have a thing for blondes since I never actually dated any…or any girl for what matter." She's the one raising eyebrows now. "I've been a coward, I took way too long to admit that I liked girls and I still lied to myself. After that, I've even got time to get married to a dude and have a daughter. Since that worked out pretty well I decided that at 26 it was time to stop lying to myself. It's been all baby steps but…" i've been looking down all the time, playing with my fingers and I stopped to clear my throat and attempt to steal a glance from those blue eyes.
She's looking at me half worried half caring. Maybe now she'll ran away, she'll think I'm the silliest person on earth. She looks so at ease with herself, so carefree, so much like the opposite of me.
"There's nothing to be ashamed for. You have a beautiful daughter so it was all for a good cause. So that makes me what? Your first gay date?"
"Second. But, for all that it's worth, the first one was pretty dramatic. I thought she was going to stick a knife on my throat after dinner." She's smiling again and I release the air I was holding in.
"Seems I have to save the honour of the class. Let me buy this." So that's it? Is it over? I like being around her, I don't want to get back to the real world. I'm pouting now but I glance over the clock. It's almost midnight, that means I've spend three hours with her. I would swear it felt like twenty minutes. She's staring at me.
"I don't wanna go"
"I can see that. Your pout is adorable. I don't want to go either but you had a long day. You look tired" She's looking at me with puppy eyes. "let me walk you home."
"Of course." I'm aware that my face lights up. I have my car in the park but I'm not going there tonight, I'll just wake up early and pick it up. I might work just a bit more.
She laughs and we make our way to the door.
It stopped raining so the umbrella is not needed, I immediately frown because I lost my excuse to take her arm. Thankfully, Brittany doesn't need an excuse, she takes my arm and we start walking, she twirls the umbrella and I feel like she's going to burst into …
"I'm singing in the rain…." I can't believe it, she's actually singing it "just singing in the rain…"
I laugh louder than I wanted which only encourages her.
"What a glorious feeling, i'm happy again" oh dear there's a lamp-post, there's Brittany in a lamp-post twirling. Not really Gene Kelly style.
"I can't go Gene on this so I'll take my pole dancing experience as a guidance." I have to lean against a car because I can't breathe.
"Pole dancing?"
"Yeah, things were getting rougher in LA. I thought it couldn't hurt to have more skills" Oh-uh, she's embarassed. "not that I ever got to dance in clubs…"
I brush a piece of hair behind her ear. "It's nothing to be ashamed, a girl's got to do what a girl's got to do. The only thing that saddens me is that someone so awesome might have to do that for a living."
"Well, Mike asked me if I wanted to come over here and spared me the experience." It's my turn to take her arm but I got the hand, it's wet because of all that lamp post grabbing but I really don't mind. She makes a face so I clean both of our hands in my sweater and grab it again. She laughs and leans her head on my shoulder, she's so warm.
After a while we get to my house and it's nearly 1 am. We stop saying goodbyes but before I can help myself I ask.
"Do you wanna sleep here?" She looks a little confused. "I could sleep on the couch it's where I sleep when Laura is out anyway. You could have the room. It's really late and I don't want you wandering alone."
"I can get a cab."
"Yes, but you can also stay. And with this case I'm dealing with it would really make me sleep better. Call me paranoid, i don't care, you do fit the profile of the victims. I'll make us some tea and we'll sleep. I'm not going to try something funny, you know?" I lower my voice to a point I even doubt if the words are saying my mouth. "I think I like you too much"
"AWWWWWW" I hear Brittany say it even if it sounds smothered by the bear hug she gives me. "Ok then." She sounds excited, or is it just me?
Half an hour later she's wearing one of my oversized t-shirts and some sweatpants that are clearly too short for her. She looks like she's going fishing and laughs when I tell her just that.
"Why would I? I think I've just found myself a very nice fish, I don't need to look any further."
With that she shut me up, i tried muttering about what kind of tea she wanted. She settled on earl grey and I took it to the couch where she was sitting.
It felt nice and cozy and it started raining again. I can hear the drops beating on the windows. She's sitting here, sipping on her tea like she belongs here. Maybe she does. I'm staring again, her hair is up in a ponytail and I can appreciate just how perfect her face is.
"San, you are staring." She says with this cocky smirk on her face.
"Sorry, It's just that you have this gross pimple on your face." She gets really serious and snaps her hand to her face slapping herself. When she realizes I'm joking it's too late.
"I HATE YOU" she starts poking me and I almost spill my tea all over.
"No, you don't. I'm hilarious." I say as I drink the rest of my cup's content. I thought I was on the winning side now. I've got this. I'm a natural. I'm adorable.
"Hmm" She says as she drops her cup on the coffee table.
Before I can process her lips are on my mine. Her kiss is soft at first to let me get used to the thought of us kissing and it grows deeper and more intense.
When I think I can't get any hotter she stops. I look at her face still really close to mine. She has this amazing smile on her face, she grazes her nose on mine.
"Goodnight Santana." She gets up. Just like that and I just watch her cross my living room towards my room. She'll be there in my bed, I'll stay here. I follow her with my eyes and I swear she's taking longer on purpose. Just before she closes the room door she gives me the wickest smile as if to say "look what you'll be missing tonight". I stay like a stone in my place, I don't think I've ever experienced anything hotter than that, hotter than her. I sigh and think "This is going to be a long night".