Hey guys! Sorry it's been so long. I'm working on a shit ton of new projects and real life is getting crazy, but I'll try not to let it go this long again. No promises though. This one is for the What They're Worth AU, and from now on stories in that AU will have a * next to the title. A bunch of you requested the coffee date, so here it is. Enjoy :)
Santana slouched back into the chair in her office, picking up her phone and dialing the number she had been texting and calling for the last week.
"Hello?"
"Hey Dani."
"Santana, what's up? Oh before I forget, are we still on for our "not a date" coffee date?" Dani laughed lightly.
"That's actually what I'm calling about-"
"Aw you're not gonna cancel on me are you? I was maybe looking forward to it. A little bit. Kinda. A lot."
"No I'm not canceling," Santana smiled tiredly. "I was just wondering if maybe we could move the location?"
"To where?"
"The hospital. There was an emergency this morning and I didn't get to do all of the paperwork I was supposed to take care of earlier so I have to stay here. I was thinking you could join me here for a little bit, really get the full shitty hospital coffee experience," she laughed. "Is that okay?"
"Yeah that's totally fine. Same time?"
"Yep."
"Great. Well then I will see you in a little bit."
"Yes you will. Bye Pretty Lady Dani," Santana grinned to herself.
"Bye Doctor Pez."
Santana ended the call and sighed, placing her phone back on her desk. She leaned forward, placing her elbows on the desk and rubbing her forehead. Glancing at the huge pile of paperwork on her desk, she groaned; it was going to be a long day.
She dove right into her work, trying to get as much done as she could before Dani showed up. Santana was surprised at how excited she was to see the blonde; sure they had seen each other every Sunday for nearly two months, but this last week was different. After Dani had apologized and they began talking like civilized people, she found that she really enjoyed the blonde's company. She was funny, smart, and wicked good with that guitar. Santana was having a lot of fun getting to know her, and hoped she would get to spend more time with her.
Santana looked up at the clock after what felt like ages, rubbing her eyes.
"Dani will be here in about fifteen minutes, might as well stop now," she reasoned. She really hated doing paperwork, plus she decided this fifteen minute interval would be a great time to go visit the kids.
She walked down to the Hudson room and walked in, greeted with lots of hugs and the usual "Come see this!" "No I wanna show you something first!" argument. Santana laughed, promising to look at both things as she was dragged off by yet another person.
Santana lost herself in there with the kids, and was startled when the door opened behind her.
"I thought I'd find you in here."
Santana spun her body around from her spot on the floor, a little boy seated in her lap, to find Dani leaning against the door frame. The blonde had a small smile on her face as she watched Santana move the boy off of her and stand up.
"Hey! Sorry, must've lost track of time," the doctor explained as she walked over to Dani, giving her a quick hug. "It's good to see you."
"It's alright. I stopped by your office first, but I should have known you'd be here." Dani grinned, returning the hug. "You ready for our coffee date?"
"Still not a date," Santana laughed, rolling her eyes. Both women knew it was a date, but Santana liked messing with Dani.
She led Dani out into the hall and to the elevator, both women making small talk as Santana led them to the cafeteria. She walked Dani over to the coffee machine, pointing out where everything was. Dani couldn't pass up the opportunity to complain about the limited choices, Santana agreeing wholeheartedly. They made their way over to a table, sitting across from each other as they talked.
"So Dani, what do you actually do for a living?" Santana asked, sipping the hot liquid in her cup.
"I put together movie soundtracks. I look for songs that best fit the movie, and if need be I'll write songs for the movie."
"Wow, that's actually pretty impressive," Santana remarked. "How did you get into that?"
"I've been doing music my whole life. Playing, singing, writing, whatever," Dani explained, taking a sip of her drink. Santana held in her giggle at the disgusted look on Dani's face. "I went to college in Boston for music theory. It was fun, but not what I ultimately wanted. I made friends in the film program who needed help with some of their projects music wise, and I thought it would be good to try something new. I loved it, and kept helping them out. One of my friends got a job offer at a film studio here in New York after we graduated, and put in a good word for me. I had an internship for a while, then I was given a full time position and here I am."
"That's really cool! Any movies I would have seen?"
"I work mostly on independent films," Dani said, playing with the stirrer in her cup. Santana almost laughed at the blonde's reluctance to keep drinking the coffee.
"Just name one movie you've worked on."
"In A World."
"Yeah I've never head of that."
"Didn't think you would have," Dani laughed.
"Will you show it to me sometime?"
"Wow, we haven't even finished the first date and you're already asking for a second," Dani smirked. Santana rolled her eyes.
"You wish." She took another sip of her coffee, trying hard not to blush at the thought of going out with Dani again. "Speaking of, how are you enjoying this wonderful hospital coffee?" She knew it was terrible, but she just wanted to put Dani on the spot.
"Oh, well, it's um, it's got this..." Santana nearly choked on her coffee, desperate to keep her laughter in. "You know, there's an interesting...taste...to it..." She decided to cut the woman some slack.
"It tastes like shit," she stated, somehow maintaining a straight face.
"Yep that's it," Dani nodded quickly. Santana finally let her laughter out.
"I'm surprised you lasted this long," she giggled. "There's a coffee shop down the block, want to pick something up there?"
"For the love of god, yes please," the blonde said hurriedly, quickly standing up. "Wait, don't you have a lot of work to do?" She sat back down, glancing across the table at Santana.
"I got enough done earlier to give me a little extra time," Santana grinned. She stood up, waiting for Dani to do the same.
"If you had extra time, why didn't we just go there first?" Dani questioned, following Santana out of the cafeteria.
"I promised shitty coffee, so shitty coffee you were going to get," the doctor laughed.
"Jerk." Dani playfully smacked Santana's arm, holding back a grin. "I have my car if you want. It'll be faster than walking," she offered.
"Sure, let's do that."
Dani led the way to the parking garage, Santana walking by her side. The blonde reached up to scratch the bridge of her nose, and as she dropped her hand it accidentally brushed against Santana's. She looked quickly over at Santana, noticing the small smile on the brunette's face. Just as she was about to reach for Santana's hand, she saw they were about five feet from her car. Sighing, Dani kept her hands to herself and opened the passenger door for Santana.
"Your chariot awaits," she teased.
"You're really gonna stick with this "your majesty" thing, huh?" Santana laughed as she sat down.
"Damn right," Dani grinned. She got in the driver's seat and started the car. Santana told her the coffee shop they were going to; the same one Dani stopped at after every visit to the hospital.
They sat in comfortable silence, leaving Santana to let her mind wander. Her train of thought led her to a realization she had made a couple nights previously.
"Hey Dani?"
"Hmmm?" The blonde kept her eyes on the road.
"I'm sorry too."
"For what?" Dani furrowed her eyebrows.
"The way I acted in the bookstore. I should've calmly explained to you why I needed the book," Santana said quietly.
"No you were right. You got it first, fair and square."
"Still, when you asked me why I needed it I should've told you."
"You had no reason to. You didn't owe me anything."
"I'm still sorry. I just get so fired up when the kids are involved. I don't really think straight. I could've handled the whole thing a lot better," Santana apologized.
"We both could have," Dani agreed. "But it's done with now. Just gotta move forward." Dani parked the car and looked over at Santana. "Let me just say, you are really scary when you're angry," she grinned.
"Really? I mean I know I am, but you didn't seem fazed at all. I was quite impressed with the way you stood your ground," Santana responded.
"I was trying really hard," Dani admitted.
"Well it worked," the doctor assured her with a smile.
Both women got out, Santana leaving her coat in Dani's car. When Dani walked around to the sidewalk on Santana's side, the brunette decided to bite the bullet and grab her hand, lacing their fingers. Dani grinned up at her and they made their way into the coffee shop together, hands intertwined. They took their place in line, waiting to make their orders.
"So tell me," Dani began. "How often do you have that awful excuse for coffee?"
"Honestly, I only have it when I don't have enough time to make it here before work or during lunch," Santana laughed.
"And you made me drink it? You're horrible."
"Yet you're still here," Santana smirked, quirking an eyebrow.
"Yeah, well...shut up," Dani mumbled, dropping her forehead onto Santana's shoulder. Santana couldn't help but smile at the red tint on Dani's cheeks as she lifted her head back up. The shorter woman didn't seem like she got embarrassed or flustered easily, yet Santana managed to do it without much trouble. As fun as it was, she decided to give the blonde a break.
"Do you carry your guitar with you everywhere?" she asked as they got closer to the front of the line.
"I don't have it now..." Dani said, confused.
"No I know, I saw it in the back of your car," Santana explained.
"Oh that one." The singer began running her thumb over the back of Santana's hand. "That's actually something I wanted to talk to you about. Some of the kids want me to teach them how to play guitar, so I was thinking...maybe I could come in on Wednesday afternoons and teach, and still come on Sundays just to play. If that's alright," Dani looked up at Santana hopefully.
"Are you kidding? Dani, that's a great idea!" the brunette exclaimed. "But what does that have to do with your guitar?"
"It's not actually mine. Well I mean, I bought it so it's technically mine, but I didn't buy it for me..." Santana squeezed her hand, smiling at the blonde's rambling. Dani stopped and gathered her thoughts. "I bought it for the kids. I could only afford one, but I thought it was a good start. That way they can have something to practice on."
Santana looked at the blonde next to her. A huge grin broke out on her face as she untangled her hand from Dani's and pulled her into a hug, holding her tightly.
"That's so generous of you. Thank you so much," she said sincerely. Pulling back, she got lost in Dani's eyes for a second. "The kids will love that," she added, pulling herself back together.
Dani beamed up at Santana and grabbed her hand again, standing closer to her than she had before. She felt so comfortable around the doctor. It was different, but an incredibly refreshing feeling. Glancing up at the brunette and seeing her relaxed face, she could tell that Santana felt the same way.
They finally made it to the front of the line to place their orders, Dani gesturing for Santana to go first as she kept a tight hold on her hand.
"Hi Doctor Lopez! The usual?" the girl behind the counter smiled brightly.
"Yes please, Brittany," Santana grinned. "And how many times have I told you, it's just Santana," she chuckled.
"Coming right up. You know I can't do that, it's your title! Like Queen or President," the blue eyed girl explained. Santana laughed, motioning for Dani to make her order.
"Afternoon Pierce," Dani greeted with a smile.
"Hey Harper! Usual one or two?"
"Um," Dani glanced up at Santana briefly. "Let's go with two today."
"Ooh, someone's feeling good," Brittany teased.
"Yeah yeah, how much?" Dani said quickly. Santana smiled at the red on her cheeks again.
"Eleven," Brittany answered.
"Here," Santana offered her money to Dani. The blonde shook her head, pushing Santana's hand away as she paid for both of them.
"You had the first round of coffee," Dani smiled, "and I asked you out in the first place. I got this."
"Thank you."
Dani led them over to a couch off to the side as they waited for their drinks. She refused to let go of Santana's hand, pulling it over her head so the brunette's arm was draped around her shoulders.
"Oh you think you're so smooth, don't you," she giggled.
"If you don't like it you can move," Dani challenged. Santana rolled her eyes.
"No, I'm good." She pulled Dani closer the tiniest bit, smiling down at her. "So what's usual number two and why does it mean you're feeling good?"
"It's this really great chocolate thing. And I mean like really chocolatey," Dani explained. "Brittany's a perceptive one. I usually get it when something good is going on or I'm just feeling happy. I didn't even notice until she pointed it out."
"You'll have to let me try it," Santana grinned. "So what could possibly be going on that's making you happy?" she asked innocently.
"Well I'm working on a project at the moment that's turning out great." Santana nodded, encouraging her to continue. "I've been volunteering at this hospital recently and that's been amazing," she smiled.
"That sounds like fun."
"It really is." Dani stopped for a minute, pretending to think. "Oh and I met this really beautiful doctor who, much to my relief, decided to forgive me for being a dick and let me take her out."
"And how's that going?" Santana questioned.
"Well," Dani looked around at the coffee shop, down to Santana's hand clutched in her own, her arm still around her shoulders, and up to Santana's smiling face. "I'd say it's going pretty well."
"I'd say you're right," Santana agreed.
Brittany called their names, and Dani stood up to get the drinks. She walked back to Santana and handed her the right cup. Still standing, she held out her hand for the brunette to take.
"Are we not staying here?" Santana asked as she let Dani pull her up. The singer shook her head.
"I thought we'd go back to your office, if that's okay." Santana nodded her approval, keeping hold of Dani's hand as they walked back to the car.
Dani once again opened Santana's door for her, earning a cheeky smile and a "Thank you, M'lady" from the doctor. Dani just laughed as she climbed into the driver's seat. Placing her coffee in the cup holder, she reflexively reached for Santana's hand, as if she had been doing it for ages. She stopped herself halfway there, intending on pulling her hand back, but Santana caught it and refused to let go as she absentmindedly stared out the window. This was something she could get used to.
The drive back to the hospital was mostly quiet, the silence only broken by Dani's intermittent grumbling at the stupidity of drivers around them and Santana's soft chuckles as she listened. They pulled into the parking garage and got out, Dani grabbing her guitar from the backseat to carry inside. She pouted slightly at the realization that carrying both the guitar and her coffee meant she had no more hands to offer Santana. Santana managed to catch the momentary pout and smiled, having thought about it too. She reached up and looped her arm with Dani's, careful not to spill her coffee as they began to walk.
"Are you okay with all this? I've just worked with kids for so long it's normal for me to be, I don't know, affectionate I guess. I like the physical contact. But I can stop if you want. I'm just gonna-" she attempted to untangle her arm from Dani's, but the blonde brought her own arm in tight against her side, trapping Santana's and keeping it looped with hers as she interrupted her rambling.
"Santana, shut up," Dani laughed. "I'm more than okay with it," she assured her.
"Okay good." Santana breathed a sigh of relief, blushing slightly as she maneuvered her hand up to hold Dani's bicep.
The two made their way up to Santana's office. Santana put the guitar behind her desk, then walked back around to join Dani in the pair of chairs on the other side. Dani looked around at the neatly kept office. It wasn't a big room, but it felt homey. Santana's desk was facing the front door, nearly pushed all the way against the back wall and up against the right wall. The left wall had a small bookcase, and the rest of it was covered in various drawings, some clearly drawn by younger children and some that looked nearly professional. Her various educational and medical degrees were hung up on the wall behind her desk, and the right wall had a large cork board covered in photos.
"I love the things the kids make for me," Santana commented as she settled into the chair beside the blonde's. Dani looked over at the wall covered in drawings.
"Are those all of them?" she asked with a smile. These kids really seemed to love their doctor.
"Good lord no," Santana laughed. "Every time the wall fills up, I take them all down and wait for the wall to fill up again. I keep every single one though. I have a couple of boxes of them in my closet." She paused to take a sip of her coffee. "And it's not always drawings. I get quite a few macaroni necklaces and woven bracelets too. Got a box of those in my closet too," she chuckled.
"What are you going to do when you run out of room to keep them all?"
"I have no idea. I really don't want to get rid of any of them. They just mean so much to me. If I could get paid in just drawings and handmade jewelry I would, but those don't really pay the bills."
"No they don't," Dani laughed. She reached over to take Santana's hand. "What made you want to be a doctor?" she questioned.
"I kind of always wanted to. I thought it would be glamorous to save lives and stuff, but I got really serious about it when I was about nine." She untangled her fingers from Dani's and walked over to the cork board, taking down a couple pictures. She went back to Dani and handed her the first picture, reclaiming her seat.
Dani examined the picture carefully. It was of two little kids, a girl and a boy sitting on a couple of extremely large pumpkins and smiling, their arms around each other's shoulders. The kind of smile that made their whole faces scrunch up.
"That's me and my best friend Puck when we were six." Dani looked up at Santana and grinned, then looked back at the picture. Little Santana had shorter hair, and was dressed in a white shirt with blue stripes and light blue overalls, red velcro converse on her feet. The boy had spiked blonde hair and was in a red and yellow striped t-shirt, with blue jeans and black velcro converse. "Our moms had been good friends for a long time, so when both of us were born our moms did everything together. We're basically siblings."
Santana handed Dani the other picture. It was of Santana and Puck again, a few years older. Puck was sitting in a hospital bed, a red cast covering his leg from knee to ankle. Santana sat criss-cross on the bed facing him, her arms in the air and his face intently focused on hers.
"Boys do a lot of dumb shit when they're young, and Puck was no exception. The idiot jumped off a roof because he thought he would be fine and it would make him look cool." Santana chuckled. "He broke his ankle and and cracked his fibula. He'll never admit it, but he was so scared when he went to the hospital. He really didn't like it. His doctor was this awful man who treated him so badly. I mean he did his job as a doctor, but he was a completely unpleasant guy. Gave Puck nightmares." She reached over to take Dani's hand as she continued.
"As his best friend it was my duty to take care of him, so I went to the hospital every day after school and spent most of my weekends with him. I saw how horrible it was in there, I saw how badly the kids were treated. It made me sick. So I did everything I could to distract him. I brought books, movies, toys, I would tell him everything that was going on a school. He was on quite a bit of pain meds so he wasn't awake long sometimes but I stayed with him anyways. I just didn't want him to feel like he was alone. His dad left when his mom get pregnant with him, so it was just her supporting the two of them. She couldn't stay with him all the time because she had to work. Some days I was the only friendly face he would see," Santana smiled sadly.
"After he came home, he told me the only reason he made it through that hospital stay was because I was there. I made him feel safe. And that's when I knew what I wanted to do. I wanted to be the kind of doctor kids don't need to protect their hurt best friends from. I wanted to be the kind of doctor that made kids feel safe when they were in a scary place. I wanted to be the kind of doctor who could always be counted on to be not only a doctor, but to also be a friend. So I worked my ass off and ended up here."
"Where's Puck now?"
"He had a bit of a rough go of it in high school but he straightened himself out, with a little help from yours truly," she laughed. "Now he's in the Air Force, got himself a wife and a little boy, a baby girl on the way. I'm their godmother. We talk quite a lot and I see him every couple of weeks, and I see the whole family about once a month."
Dani just smiled, holding onto Santana's hand. She watched her face as she spoke, amazed at how enthusiastic and passionate she was about her job and her friend. She'd honestly never met anyone like Santana before. The doctor had so much drive and compassion. She was completely refreshing.
Suddenly Dani couldn't take it anymore. She put her coffee on Santana's desk, then turned back to the brunette and leaned over, capturing her lips in a soft but passionate kiss. Santana was pleasantly surprised, lifting her hand to cup Dani's cheek. The blonde had the softest lips she'd ever had the pleasure of kissing, and immediately missed them when Dani pulled away.
"Sorry if that's moving too fast, I just...you're incredible," Dani breathed out.
"No no no it's not too fast," Santana said quickly, bringing Dani in for another kiss. "But I was thinking..." she mumbled, reluctant to let go of her lips.
"What?" Dani asked worriedly, pulling away again.
"Does this mean I get my second date?"
Sorry the ending's kinda bad, it's 4:30am and i'm exhausted. But there you have it!
Let me know what you think, review and stuff :P
I have a couple prompts to work through, but keep sending more in!
Stay golden lovelies :)