A/N: Posted a teaser on a new Brittana story I'm currently editing on my tumblr: Parispal23
Brittany had never been happy to see the clock strike 6 p.m. as she was on this day. After her encounter with Officer Lopez at city hall it seemed like her day had gotten worse.
"Thank God!" she said as she and Jim entered the station, "I'm so ready to put this day behind me."
"I second that," Jim said.
Brittany greeted a few fellow officers a long the way and finally made it to the weapons locker.
"After you," she told Jim.
"You're such a gentleman," he teased.
"Hey guys," Kurt said from behind the counter, "How was the street?"
"More of the same," Jim said signing in his equipment.
"No, dude," Kurt said, "In here is more of the same. At least you get some fresh air."
"That is true," Jim said. He finished up and then turned to Brittany, "Alright, you have a great couple of days off and I'll see you Sunday for the start of your first set of night shifts."
"Sounds exciting," Brittany said. She had been looking forward to see what the job was like after dark.
"It can get pretty bad out there," Jim said.
After Jim left, Brittany went up to Kurt to turn in her own equipment.
"How was your first week?" Kurt asked.
"Interesting," Brittany said, "But loved every minute of it...well, almost every minute."
"The triple homicide?" Kurt asked sympathetically.
"Yeah," Brittany said, letting out a breath, "Hope we catch these punks soon."
"Me too," Kurt said as she handed Brittany the check-in form, "Hey, what are you up to tonight?"
Brittany looked up, a bit surprised, "Uh, nothing much just meeting some friends."
"Just so happens," Kurt began, "Some friends and I are going to this new bar tonight. You and yours should come join us."
Brittany looked back down and finished up the form. She liked Kurt, but Brittany had a feeling that her "friends" included one Officer Lopez. Not a person she was exactly dying to see again.
"Uh what bar?" Brittany asked, if only to be polite.
"Lala's Bar," Kurt said, "It's near West Hollywood. Just opened up like a few months ago and my friends and I have been wanting to check it out."
"That sounds cool," Brittany said, not sounding too excited, "We kinda made plans to go to this other...
"Oh," Kurt suddenly said as if realizing something, "Sorry...it is near West Hollywood but it's not entirely a gay bar… it's pretty mixed...but if you're not comfortable..."
"Oh, oh no," Brittany said, quickly, "It's fine, I don't have a problem with that."
"Good," Kurt said, sounding relieved, "It's just that there are a few here who get a bit uncomfortable with the whole West Hollywood scene."
"Well," Brittany said with a smile, "I'm not one of those people."
"Good," Kurt said, smiling, "So if you guys need an addition to your plans, you should come. "
"Umm, maybe," Brittany said, handing Kurt her form, "Who's going?"
"Tina, who've you met right?"
"Right," Brittany said, "She's great."
"She is. Her boyfriend Mike is going," Kurt said, "My friend Sugar..."
"Wait," Brittany interrupted, "This wouldn't happen to be L.A. Times Sugar?"
"Oh you know her?" Kurt asked, surprised.
Brittany suddenly wondered if Kurt was the one leaking information about the robberies to the reporter.
"I met her at the triple homicide."
"She's been on this story for months," Kurt said with a chuckle,"She can be annoying, so watch out."
Brittany just smiled.
Could Kurt be the leak? This information also caused Brittany to think that Officer Lopez could be the leak as well. If Kurt knew Sugar, and Sugar knew Lopez...
Officer Lopez's accusations that she was the leak could be a diversion. Blame the rookie, Brittany thought.
"And Santana Lopez," Kurt finished, "Have you met her? She's at this station too."
And there was that name, "I have met her," Brittany said, "Actually ran into her earlier today. You know, I think my friends and I might stop by."
"Awesome!" Kurt exclaimed, "We'll be there around 9."
"Great!" Brittany said, with her best smile.
She finished up with Kurt and began to walk to the locker room. She hated to think that Kurt or even Tina giving unauthorized case information to the reporter, but if they were, they needed to stop.
What she found most curious was that Officer Lopez was possibly friends with the reporter, or at lease friends by proxy.
Tonight, she would try to find out just how close her co-workers were to the L.A. Time reporter.
###
Santana sat in her living room, waiting for Kurt to come pick her up for the night. Kurt had said that they were all going to some new bar that everyone was raving about.
Dressed in a a form fitting turquoise short dress, Santana sat and watched a recording of the local news broadcast from earlier.
"Just great," Santana said to herself.
A story about the triple homicide came on and pretty much informed the city that the LAPD was at a loss as to where these suspects were.
The front door suddenly opened. She got up and turned off the TV.
"What's up, you ready?" Kurt asked as he entered the house without knocking.
"Hey, yes," Santana said, a bit surprised by his sudden appearance.
"Wow, you look fancy," Kurt admired.
"You did say this was a fancy bar," Santana said smiling.
"Right, I did," Kurt said, "That's why I wore my best black blazer, black jeans and boots."
"Very fancy," Santana teased back, "So, it's just you, me and Tina and Mike?"
"And Sugar," Kurt said.
Santana let out a breath.
"Look, I know she can be a pest..." Kurt began.
"No shit," Santana said.
"But she's very cool," Kurt said, "And you guys have gotten along in the few times we've all hung out. It's these damn robberies."
"Kurt," Santana said, "I like Sugar, I do. But it is these robberies. She's getting information from someone in the department. How's it going to look with the three of us being seen with her."
"I'm not going to stop being her friend," Kurt said, "She promised no work talk today. She just wants to have a good time."
Santana got very serious, "I'm going to ask you this once," she began, "And whatever answer you tell me, I'll believe you."
"I'm not the one leaking information," Kurt said, "Sugar may be my friend, but I know the rules of my job."
"OK," Santana said, believing him.
"Besides," Kurt added, "It's not like I know much anyway. I may be up to date on the gossip, but when it comes to serious stuff, cases, I don't know much. If anything."
"I believe you, "Santana assured.
"Good," Kurt said, sounding relieved, "OK, so..Tina, Mike and Sugar are meeting us there and we might hook up with another group."
"What other group?" Santana asked curious.
"I invited Brittany S. Pierce and her friends," Kurt said, "She says you've met."
"What?" Santana asked, stunned.
"You know, the pretty blond," Kurt said, "Always hanging out with Quinn Fabray and Puck..."
"Yeah I know who she is," Santana interrupted, "Why the hell did you invite her?"
"Whoa," Kurt said, putting up his hand, "What's the problem?"
"The problem?" Santana asked, her voice a bit to harsh, "The problem?"
"Yeah, what's problem?," Kurt repeated.
Santana tried to wrap her mind around the new information. She had last seen Officer Pierce a little over seven hours ago and that wasn't exactly a great encounter. Now, there was a chance that they would hang out tonight.
"So she said she was coming?" Santana asked, wanting details.
"Maybe," Kurt said, "Maybe they don't show up at all. She said they had plans...she wasn't too excited about going."
"So what makes you think she'll show up?" Santana asked.
"After I told her who was going, she seemed more sure of showing up," Kurt said.
"She knows I'm going?" Santana asked, not sure why she was suddenly needed to know every word of the conversation.
"I guess,"Kurt said, confused, "What's going on?"
"Nothing," Santana said, quickly.
If Pierce shows up, Santana thought, and Sugar is there maybe I can find out some information.
"Do you not like her?" Kurt asked, "Or Quinn?"
"No, it's not that," Santana said, maybe sounding a little too forced, "It's fine. Fine."
"Right," Kurt said slowly.
"Let's go," Santana said, "Everyone is meeting us at the front door and I need a drink."
They left and Santana knew she was about to have long night.
###
Brittany sat at her kitchen table listening to Puck talk about a call he and his partner had done earlier in the day. Quinn and Puck had come over for dinner before going out for the night.
"...and bam!" Puck finished, "We got the guy."
"Nice," Brittany said.
"Well done," Quinn praised, "I bet you get promoted before us."
"Stop," Puck said.
Brittany smiled. Puck hated compliments.
"So," Quinn began, "Enough work talk. Where are we going tonight?"
"I thought you had the night all planned out?" Brittany asked.
"I prefer to go where the wind takes me," Quinn said smiling.
"Uh oh," Puck said, "Last time she said that we ended up in Vegas."
"Alas," Quinn said, "No Vegas this time. We had to go and get jobs."
"Well," Brittany said, "Kurt invited me to a bar."
"Oh, like a date," Puck teased.
"No, not like that," Brittany said, rolling her eyes, "In case you haven't noticed, Kurt is as gay as a unicorn. He's going to meet some friends there and asked if we wanted to come too."
"Friends?" Quinn asked, "I'm assuming Tina."
"That's right and her boyfriend Mike," Brittany said, "And Sugar."
"Not the Sugar the reporter?" Quinn asked, surprised.
"The very one."
"Oh shit," Puck said, "You think Kurt's the one giving her info?"
"Maybe," Brittany said, "Or maybe her other friend...Santana Lopez."
"You're joking?" Quinn asked, "Sweetheart, I doubt Lopez would be the giving out case information."
"Why not?" Brittany asked.
"She's the best friend of my mom's deputy mayor," Quinn said.
"Yeah I know," Brittany said.
"She is?" Puck asked, confused.
"I asked mom about her," Quinn continued.
"You interested in her?" Puck asked almost leering.
"What? No," Quinn said, exasperated, "I swear Puck, one drunken make out session in college does not a lesbian make."
"Now you're just ruining the images happening in my mind," Puck said, faking hurt.
"Anyway," Quinn continued, "After she introduced herself, the next day I saw a picture of her in Sam's office."
"You snooping around?" Brittany asked.
"I was there visiting mom," Quinn said, "And we stopped by Sam's office to drop off a folder or something. Anyway, I saw Santana in a picture with some other people."
"And because you saw her picture, she can't possibly be leaking information?" Brittany asked, a bit perplexed.
"I asked mom about her," Quinn continued, "And from what Sam says there is no one more by the book than Officer Lopez. Comes from a family of cops."
"That's not proof," Brittany said.
"Look all I'm saying is that it's most likely this Sugar is getting her info from some office clerk," Quinn finished.
"Lopez thinks it's me," Brittany said.
"You?" Puck and Quinn asked at once.
"I don't know what her problem is with me," Brittany said, "But it's fucking annoying. And if this whole time she's accusing me talking to the press and she's the one that's friends with the reporter, well, that's bullshit."
"Wow," Puck said, "She's got you all riled up."
"So you can't stand her," Quinn said, "Yet, you want to hang out with her?"
Brittany let out a breath. Yes, Santana Lopez got under her skin, but she also needed to know why Lopez was being so hard on her.
"Not hang out," Brittany said, "Observe."
"This should be fun to watch," Puck said with a small smile.
###
The bar was more club than bar. It reminded Santana of some futuristic spaceship. Everything in the club/bar was mostly white and pastel colors. There was a huge bar down the middle of he place, catering to people on both sides of the room.
"Wow!" Tina said, "It's like something out of Star Trek."
"This is awesome!" Mike said.
"It's like a damn spaceship," Santana agreed. She turned to Kurt, "I thought you said it was a bar?"
"It is!" Kurt said, pointing to the center, "Look at that huge ass bar."
Santana had to chuckle.
"Come on," Kurt said, "Sugar said she got us a VIP table in the back."
Santana followed Kurt and Tina across the room. All around her beautiful people walked around her and Santana was suddenly very glad she decided to come out with the group. It had been almost six months since she had been in a relationship. She had been with Danni Jon, an independent investor, for almost a year. She had been in love. Or at least Santana thought she was in love. The more time went on, Santana realized she wasn't in love with Danni, but the idea of her.
"HEY!" Sugar shouted from the booth as the group arrived.
"What's up L.A. Times?" Kurt asked.
"About time you fools got here," Sugar said, "I almost lost the table. Santana! Tina! Mike! How are you guys?"
"Good," Santana said, taking a seat.
"I'm ready to party!" Tina said, "I need to unwind."
"Me too!" Mike said.
"Hell yeah!" Sugar said, "I got us all free drinks for the night."
"How'd you do that?" Kurt asked.
"I wrote a review on this place last week," Sugar said, "Rave review, and as a thank you, I get free drinks tonight."
"Isn't that some sort of conflict?" Santana asked.
"No way," Sugar said, "The review has already been published."
"Nice!" Tina said, excited, "I'll take a martini!"
"You really are ready to party huh?" Santana asked, amused.
"Hell yeah!"
"So is this it?" Sugar asked, "Just the five of us? I got us special VIP bracelets."
Sugar started handing out the paper bracelets to everyone, "Wear this and you won't have to pay for a drink all night."
"That sounds dangerous," Mike said putting his on.
"We'll need more," Santana said.
"Huh?" Sugar asked.
"Well," Kurt said, "I sort of invited some other people."
"How many?" Sugar asked.
"Not sure," Kurt said, "One for sure."
"It'll be three," Santana added, "Three."
"Alright," Sugar said, starting to get up, "I'll go get three extra bracelets."
"Sugar," Santana said, "Before the night goes on, let's just agree on no work talk."
"I'm off the clock," Sugar assured, "I'm here to get drunk and have a good time."
"Good," Santana said.
"You know," Sugar said, "If it wasn't for this case, I have no doubt that I'd be part of this little group of yours more often. You'd love me!"
"Maybe," Santana began, "After this case is solved, we can hang out more. Maybe."
"It'll happen," Sugar teased, as she left.
Santana shook her head and smiled.
"Wait," Tina said, "Who else is coming? What three?"
Santana let Kurt explain as a waitress came to the table to get their drink order.
###
Brittany drove up to the bar's valet.
"This is the place?" Puck asked, "I thought you said it was a bar. It looks like a club to me."
"Yeah," Brittany said, looking over the front of the building, "It does look like a club. At least from out here."
"Maybe this was a good idea after all," Quinn said smiling.
Everyone got out of the car and Brittany handed the valet her keys.
The three friends walked to the front door and were immediately let inside.
"Welcome beautiful ladies," the bouncer said, "You too man."
Quinn smiled, "Love this place already."
Brittany followed Quinn and Puck inside and was struck by how futuristic the place looked. She scanned the room and saw the place packed.
"Man," Brittany said, "It's been ages since I've been to a gay club."
"Whoa!," Puck protested, "This is a gay club?"
"Since when do you have issues with that?" Brittany asked, "You've been to gay bars with us before."
"I don't have an issue," Puck said, "And gay bars are awesome because of all the free drinks I score."
Bot Quinn and Brittany rolled their eyes.
"There are guys and girls here though," Puck said.
"Kurt said it was a mix of everyone," Brittany explained.
"Then how the hell am I supposed to know which chicks to hit on?" Puck asked.
"You'll figure it out," Quinn said, "How about you Britt? What's on your radar these days? Guys? Girls?"
"Nothing is on my radar these days," Brittany said, "I don't know. Men, I guess."
"Hmm," Quinn said, "Well your last two relationships have been with men, maybe you need a change."
"Thanks life coach," Brittany said sarcastically.
"When was the last time you were with a woman?" Puck asked.
"Ummm...," Brittany said, thinking, "I think..wow, like 2,3 years ago."
"Well," Quinn said, "Maybe tonight we can change that."
"I'm not here to hook up," Brittany said, "I'm here to learn about the leak..."
"Oh jeez woman," Puck said, "Can we leave work at work and have some fun?"
"We'll see," Brittany said.
The three headed straight to the bar and Quinn was able to get them drinks right away, despite the crowd.
"How do you do that?" Puck asked, a bit amazed.
"Charm," Quinn stated.
Brittany laughed. She looked around the club looking for Kurt and his friends. The place was too crowded to really get a good look. She both wanted to find Santana Lopez and not find her. She wanted to find out if Lopez was indeed the leak, but Brittany wasn't looking forward to the arrogant attitude of said officer.
"Stop looking around!" Quinn said, "Let's drink. If we see them, fine. If we don't, even better."
Brittany took a sip of her drink, "Alright, let's drink."
###
Santana was surprised she was having a good time. So far everyone had stayed at the table to talk and drink and true to her word, Sugar had not mentioned anything about work.
Occasionally, Santana would scan the room, looking for Officer Pierce but did not see her. She was beginning to think the rookie wasn't going to show up, oddly disappointing her.
As if reading her mind, Kurt mentioned Brittany.
"I'm going to go walk around a bit," Kurt said getting up, "See if the other are lost in the crowd somewhere. I forgot to get Brittany's number."
"Who are they?" Sugar asked as Kurt disappeared into the crowd.
Santana saw this as an opportunity to do some digging, "Well, one of them you met already," she said.
"Oh? Who?"
"Officer Brittany S. Pierce," Santana said, watching Sugar's face for any suspicious reaction.
"Oh the one from the crime scene?" Sugar asked, "Man, I though she was going to throw up. Poor baby."
"Sugar," Tina said seriously, "Three people died. I wouldn't blame her if she did throw up."
"I'm not laughing at the victims," Sugar explained, "Just the rookie's reaction."
"So," Santana began, "Was that the first time you saw her?"
"Yeah," Sugar said, taking a sip of her drink, "Wait...I thought there was no work talk."
"There isn't," Tina said, "You're right. No work!"
Santana just smiled. Sugar seemed to be telling the truth. Santana wasn't sure why she was being so hard on Pierce. She was 99% certain that the young officer had not said anything to anyone. Yet...
###
On the other side of the bar, Brittany felt a tap on her shoulder.
"Kurt!" Brittany said when she turned around, "There you are."
"How long have you been here?" Kurt asked.
"About half an hour," Brittany said. She turned to Quinn and Puck, "You guys know Kurt right?"
"Everyone does," Puck said, "What's up Kurt?"
"Nothing much," Kurt said, "Come on, we're all over at the back table. And we scored bracelets to get free drinks the rest of the night."
"Awesome!" Puck said, "Perfect cause I just finished this one!"
"Let's go," Quinn said.
Brittany felt her heart quicken a bit. Here we go, she thought.
The trio followed Kurt and soon the table was in view. Brittany saw Officer Lopez first. She tried to ignore how gorgeous Lopez looked in her dress, but it was hard. Lopez looked like she should be shopping in Beverly Hills not dealing with criminals.
Santana looked up and saw the person she wanted and didn't want to see. Pierce was wearing a dark purple, short dress that accentuated all the right places. Despite herself, Santana found herself admiring her form.
"Hey guys," Kurt said, smiling, "Look who I found at the bar!"
"Look who it is!" Sugar said, "Hey Pierce, you feeling better?"
"I'm fine," Brittany said, quickly glancing at Lopez, "Fancy seeing you here. Writing another story?"
"Nope!" Sugar said, "No work for me today. Only drink. Speaking of which here are your bracelets. All free!"
Brittany, Quinn and Puck put on their bracelets and thanked Sugar.
"Hey guys," Tina said, "Here, sit. Sit. This is my boyfriend Mike."
"Hey everyone," Mike said, "Glad you could make it."
"Thanks man," Puck said, "Name's Puck. This is Brittany and Quinn."
Everyone made room for the three new arrivals and Brittany ended up sitting across from Officer Lopez.
After everyone greeted each other, Quinn began to ask Sugar about her job.
"This must make for some interesting conversation," Quinn asked.
"What?"
"A reporter and cops," Quinn said, "All working the same case."
"I'm not working anything," Kurt said.
"I've been meaning to ask," Santana began looking between Quinn and Brittany, "Do you know Sam Evans?"
"Sure," Quinn said, "I mean, I've only talked to him maybe twice since he started working for my mom, but yeah I know him. I had no idea you two were so close though."
"And you?" Santana asked turning to Brittany.
"No," she said, "I know who he is but I've never met him."
"Funny isn't it?" Santana asked, "All this time we were all connected by one degree and we never met."
"Fascinating," Brittany said sarcastically.
Brittany felt Quinn hit her leg under the table.
"Ouch!"
"It is," Quinn said, "Small world I guess."
Santana had asked Sam the same question over lunch earlier and he had said the same thing. He had only exchanged hellos with Quinn a couple of times but hadn't heard anything about Brittany.
"Umm, I thought we said no work talk," Tina chimed in.
"You're right," Santana agreed.
"Good," Puck said.
Brittany looked at Santana, who in turn looked back. They quickly looked away, when Tina spoke.
"Who wants to dance?" she said, getting up.
"You know I'm always up for dancing," Mike said getting up.
"Anyone else?" Tina asked.
No one got up.
"Seriously? Come on!" she encouraged.
"I'll dance," Quinn said getting up.
"Alright, me too," Puck said also getting up and turning to Brittany, "You coming Britt? Put all these fools to shame with you skill?"
"Skill?" Mike asked, interested.
"I'm an alright dancer," Brittany said.
"Umm, no," Quinn protested, "This girl amazing. She was a choreographer all through college. Even worked on a dance project with Janet Jackson."
"NO WAY!" Sugar exclaimed, very excited, "I love her!"
Santana raised an eyebrow, impressed.
"OK, now you have to dance," Mike said.
"I'm not really in a dancing mood right now," Brittany said, "Let me finish my drink and I'll catch you after."
Quinn gave Brittany a knowing look. Brittany never passed up a chance to dance, no matter how tired. Brittany knew Quinn had caught on to her wanting to talk to Sugar and Santana to see if she could get any info.
"One drink," Quinn warned, "Then I'm coming to get you. You still owe me a dance from last time."
"One drink," Brittany said smiling, "I promise."
Santana watched the exchanged and wondered if there was more to Brittany and Quinn's relationship than just friends. It bothered her for some reason.
Probably gets lots of favors from mayor mom, Santana thought feeling annoyed.
Brittany watched as Puck and Quinn followed Tina and Mike to the dance floor. She suddenly turned her attention to a random young man who had suddenly appeared.
"Hey Kurt," he said, flirtatiously.
"Oh hi," Kurt said, sounding like he didn't know the man, "Um.."
"Donald."
"Of course," Kurt said, with a small chuckle, "I knew that."
"Do you want to dance?"
"Sure, why the hell not." Kurt said and left.
The table was now made up of Sugar, Brittany and Santana.
"So," Brittany began, "Sugar, Officer Lopez, how long have you too known each other?"
"You call her Officer Lopez?" Sugar asked, laughing, "Kinda formal no?"
"She's right," Santana said, "Call me Santana."
"Alright," Brittany said, noticing Santana's smile, "Then call me Brittany."
Santana nodded.
"You two don't get along I take it?" Sugar asked.
"Nope," Puck answered, suddenly appearing.
Brittany shot Puck a look.
"What?" Puck asked, "I'm just came back to get my phone. Fell out of my pocket."
Brittany continued to glare at Puck as he once again left to rejoin the dancers.
Santana was amused that Brittany had talked about their disagreements with her friends.
"To answer your question," Santana said, "I've known Sugar for a little less than a year."
"We met thorough Kurt," Sugar said.
"Must be nice,' Brittany said, "Having friends who are cops. Must get you some good contacts for you articles."
Santana let out a small laugh. Brittany was fishing for information. Santana didn't blame her one bit. It did look suspicious.
"Not from these fools," Sugar said, "I have my sources and these three aren't it."
"Oh no?" Brittany asked.
"Please," Sugar said, sounding a bit offended, "You think I'd waste my time with these three. They are hardcore by the rules nerds... plus my sources have more..."
"More what?" Santana asked, curious.
"Nothing," Sugar said, now looking jittery. She turned to the dance floor, "Hey look at all the dancers. I bet there's one out there without a partner..."
Sugar left, leaving Santana and Brittany alone.
-TBC-