A/N - So, this chapter is a lot shorter then what I usually post, but you guys have been good to me so I wanted to give you a fast update. BUT I there is something I need to point out, so please don't skim over this. This isn't me being mean or nasty or anything, I just wanna' get rid of any confusion and upset. I know this is a Faberry, and that I am putting concentration on other characters, and story lines. However, that's how all of my Fics are. I do try to focus more on the main characters, as tagged. But, my writing kind of covers the main characters, as well as what goes on around them. I'm a huge fan of more than one story line. I know not all of you have read my other stories, and you don't have to, I'm just letting people know. It's only fair. That being said, if there's anybody who doesn't like that, and is looking for ALL Faberry, I'll tell you now, that's not my style. I would totally understand if you wanted to stop reading at this point. I won't hold it against anybody. I'll stop now, read on, or don't...I just needed to get that out there. Other than that, thank you for reading, and reviewing, and I hope you keep it up.

It was the day after Santana's inner community crack down, and everybody at Temptation Playground was on edge. Any employee that saw the Boss Lady coming in their direction would either walk in the other direction or, duck into the nearest room. It didn't take a genius to figure out that the woman wasn't in a good mood. Sure, she was always as tough as she could be, but given recent events, her mood was much worse. Starting anything with her would have been like feeding gasoline to an open flame. People were scared. Most of them had secrets, but knowing how it would go for them if they were exposed, made it a very rough environment to live after the very public smack down. Nobody wanted to be put in the hot seat, and they were all doing whatever they could to avoid it.

Santana was headed into her office to relax. She had just taken a bottle of vodka from the bar, and planned on having a private party for two. Her, and a shot glass. As she entered the office, and closed the door behind her, she noticed her blond haired perfection fast asleep on the couch. She smiled, and moved toward her. She noticed Brittany had her tablet resting on her chest, so she knew she must have been doing some work. She leaned down, and kissed her on the forehead before going to her desk and sitting down. She took a deep breath, and grabbed a shot glass from her top drawer.

After two shots, she sat back, and closed her eyes. She wanted to vanish. Just for a day. It was true, she loved her job, her status, and everything that came with it. However, it was taking it's toll on her nerves, and most likely her blood pressure. She was about to sit up and take another shot, when she heard her favorite sound in the world. Her girlfriend's voice.

"San?"

She opened her eyes, and smiled. Brittany was sitting up on the couch, rubbing sleep from her eyes.

"Hi baby."

"Hi", she yawned."Did you just get in here?"

"Yeah, a few minutes ago. I didn't mean to wake you up."

"It's okay, I need to get up anyways. I have to go out for a bit, did you feel like coming with me", the blond asked, as she stood up, and stretched.

"I wish I could, but I have a lot to do here. I'm sorry", said Santana, sadly."Where do you have to go?"

"I need to buy a few new outfits to dance in, and...Rachel asked me to bring her something from the vegan place she eats at all the time." She didn't want to admit it, but she couldn't lie to Santana. She loved her, and respected her enough to be honest.

"No, you don't have to do that, Britts. She can eat what's in the kitchen just like everybody else. At least until she's allowed to go out", said Santana.

"I know I don't have to San, but I want to. Vegan's are super picky about what they eat."

"Well she should of thought about that before she messed up", laughed the Latina."She doesn't deserve any special favors, especially not from you."

"She's my friend."

"Yeah, she's mine too, but she's also in trouble."

Brittany just frowned a little.

"Okay, is there something bothering you", asked Santana."You've been a little weird since yesterday, so if there is something you need to talk about, I'm right here baby. You know that, right?"

"Yeah, I know that. I love you for that, but there isn't anything I need to talk about."

"I don't believe you, but alright. I'm not about to force you."

Brittany watched as Santana, poured another shot, and took it.

"Do you want a shot?"

"No thanks, I have to drive", answered Brittany, plainly.

"Alright."

"San...are you like...ordering me not to pick up Rachel's food", asked the blond. It was obvious that she didn't want to ask the question.

"I really don't think you should, but it's up to you."

"Is it up to me", she asked, earning a wide eyed expression from the other woman."I'm sorry, I'm not trying to be mean or anything, I just...feel like you're trying to make me feel guilty or something."

"Brittany, if you feel like like you have to get her food, get it."

"See, why do you keep saying that", whined the blond."You keep saying, if I feel like I have to. Why can't it be because I want to?"

"Britt's...", said Santana, as she stood up from desk.

"No, it's like you can't say that I want to, because you're mad that I actually want to get it for her."

"Oh my God...it's not like that, why are you taking it there", asked Santana, in shock."What is really going through your head right now?"

"Nothing, I don't wanna' talk about it", she answered calmly. She turned to leave, but Santana hurried to her and stepped in front of her."San, can I just go? Please?"

"No, Britts...I can tell there is something that you really wanna' say, so just...come on. Out with it already."She watched as her perfection's blue eyes filled with tears."What is it?"

"You'll probably hate me after I say this...", she sobbed.

"I could never hate you for anything, I swear baby", said Santana.

"I don't like how you are sometimes, Santana. It scares me, it confuses me, and I don't like how it makes me feel. Yesterday was so scary...you were so mean, and so horrible, and that side of you upsets everybody."

"If they would just listen to me, I wouldn't have to get like that", defended the Latina."Some of them never listen."

"It's kind of hard to listen to somebody when all they are doing it yelling, and screaming, and threatening to hurt you, San. If you want people to listen to what you say, you have to listen to them too. What you're doing to Rachel is unfair, and what you did to Tina was just mean", she cried.

"Britts, Tina needed to go to rehab, you know she did", said Santana. She was getting upset, but not enough to yell. She never yelled at her girlfriend, because she knew how much she hated it.

"Yeah, I know she did but San...you didn't have to call her out in front of everybody like that. You didn't have to make her do drugs to make your point. She would have gone if you just would have talked to her."

"You don't know that, baby."

"Yes, I do, you know I know? Because I' talk to her, San. I talk to her all the time. You scare her, and if you just would have calmly talked to her, she would have just gone without fighting you about it."

"I get that, I understand what you're saying, but what kind of boss would I be if I made threats, and didn't follow through? They respect me, because they fear me."

"No, that's bullshit", said Rachel, as she burst into the office. Not that the couple would have known, but she had been listening outside the door. She was followed by Kurt, who was desperately trying to hold her back. She was pissed, and walked towards Santana as if she was going to tackle her."What the Hell is the matter with you, they don't respect you! They don't respect you, because they fear you!"

Santana was glaring at Rachel, and silently hoping she would take a swing. The tiny woman never got a chance you swing, because Kurt managed to grab her, and hold her back.

"You better watch your tone Rachel! Who the fuck do you think you're talking to", spat the Latina.

"I'm not really sure anymore, because you sound like a fucking crazy person, and I've always tried to avoid crazy people", Rachel spat back.

"Oh my God...Rachel please...let's just go back upstairs, okay", asked Kurt.

"No, screw that, this bitch needs a reality check!"

"What did you just call me" asked Santana, as she lunged forward. She would have smacked Rachel, but Brittany grabbed onto her and held her back.

"Can you both just stop? Please...", she begged through her tears."You guys are friends."

"No, we were until she started treating me like a damn dog on leash", said Rachel, who was still fighting against Kurt's hold."I cannot fucking believe you are doing this to me!"

"What I'm doing to you? Rachel you broke the rules!"

"Yeah, for the first time ever since I started working here", yelled Rachel, as she broke into tears. With that, she stopped fighting, and relaxed her body."One rule, after how much time, Santana?"

Seeing that Rachel had managed to calm down, made it easier for the Latina to stop fighting against her girlfriend's hold."It's still a rule."

"Jesus...Santana, we used to be better friends. Much better then where we're at now, and I'm not about to sit here and pretend like I don't know what happened. I understand why you have to be so harsh with a lot of the people around here, but you have to know it doesn't have to be that way with me", Rachel cried."Yeah, it's a little screwed up that I want that special treatment, but it's what I'm used to, so how can you blame me?"

"People get pissed off when they see me treating you better, so how does that make me look around here", asked Santana. She hated seeing Rachel cry like she was, but she was going to stand her ground no matter. At least that's what she was telling herself.

"So they'll get over it! They always do! You need to get off this whole rule thing with me! I made a fucking mistake, everybody does, so why are you being so damn hard on me?"

"Because, you know better."

"Yeah, well things have been a little altered for me recently, excuse me for living", she sobbed."Why don't we talk about what's really pissing you off? You hate that I met Quinn, and like her a little more than the rest of my clients."

"Whatever, don't even take it there", snapped Santana."This has nothing to do with her!"

"No, it has everything to do with her! You are terrified that I met somebody that I connect with, so you're doing what you can to keep me from her!"

"That's not true!"

"Yes it is, but you're too stubborn to just admit it! Why the Hell else would you confine me to the building as part of my punishment?"

"Oh my God", breathed Santana, as she walked to her desk, and grabbed the bottle of vodka. she didn't bother with the shot glass, she just took the cap off and drank straight from the bottle. When she was done, she took a deep breath, and took in her surroundings. Brittany and Kurt standing in silence, too uncomfortable to actually add to the discussion. Rachel in tears, and angry, clearly not willing to let anything go."Fine."

"Fine what", asked Rachel, wiping some of her own tears away.

Santana wasn't sure what it was that brought her to the decision. Maybe it was Brittany being so upset. Maybe it was Rachel being so bold towards her. Maybe she was just tired of fighting. Or maybe she was found out, and didn't feel like admitting anything. She was going to say what she wanted to say, but it would be on her terms, even if she was wrong.

"You're no longer suspended, and you don't have to stay here. Just know, that you aren't off the hook. This is about you fucking up, regardless of what you believe because you know what, Rachel...you did fuck up. By all means, take as little responsibility as you want, but this is your fault, and yours alone."

Rachel wanted to say something, but she chose to just nod.

"Just get out of my office, before I change my mind. You too Kurt, out."

Rachel and Kurt wasted no time hurrying out of the office, and closing the door behind them. A cluster of random employees scattered in different directions as if it wasn't obvious that were listening around the office door. Once in the hallway, Rachel just looked at Kurt and took a deep breath.

"Wow...", he said, in almost a whisper."Like just...wow."

"I know", she breathed."I won."

"Yeah, you did, too bad she thinks that she won", he laughed."So, you have your freedom. I would like to ask what you wanna' do now, but I'm sure I already know the answer."

"Oh yeah, you do. I'm going to see Quinn. I don't care what she's doing, or where she is, I'm going to see her."

"Yup, I knew it", he laughed, as he pulled out his phone, and quickly glanced at the time."What if I told you, that I know exactly where she is, and what she's doing?"

"Wait, really? How", beamed Rachel.

"Trust me, I have my sources. Tell you what, go get ready, and meet me in the parking garage in twenty minutes. You're driving."

"Deal", said Rachel, as she dashed off towards the elevator.

Back in Santana's office, she had taken yet another shot, while dealing with the awkward silence that was her girlfriend at the moment. She wasn't crying anymore, but she was sitting on the couch, lips sealed.

"Britts."

Nothing.

"Come on...it's alright. It's over and done with."

"You know it could happen, don't you?"

Santana had no idea where the question had come from, or what she had meant by it.

"What?"

"You know that Rachel could fall in love and leave here. Not even with Quinn, but it could be anybody. That's why you're so hard on her. You don't want her to leave."

"I never said that", laughed Santana.

"You didn't have to. I get it San, I do. just keep in mind that it could happen to any of the people that work here. I know you care about everybody, and you can't deny it. But, sometimes you have to accept when things change, and you don't have control anymore."

"I know it could happen, and I do accept it", said Santana, calmly.

"You say that, and I'm sorry, but I don't think it's true. San, how would you feel if somebody was trying to keep us apart?"

"Oh Brittany, it's not the same thing."

"Not exactly the same thing, but close enough. I love you...I always will, but I just wish you'd relax and deal with things better sometimes. I know you're trying to scare everybody, and be big mean Boss Lady, but it doesn't always have to be like that."

Santana smiled. She wasn't going to argue. She moved towards the couch, and pulled her blue eyed perfection to her feet."I love when you say what's on your mind."

"You're not mad at me?"

"Never", smiled the Latina.

"Okay, good. I'm sorry."

"You don't have to be sorry, baby."

"Just...put yourself in other people's shoes once in a while, okay", asked Brittany.

"I'll try."

Meanwhile, across the city, Quinn and Blaine were waiting on their lunch order in a restaurant. They were talking about all the things Rachel had told Quinn.

"I'd like to say that I'm surprised with what Santana did, but I'm not. She's ruthless", Blaine was saying.

"Obviously, but I can't help but feel like she took things way too far", said Quinn."I'll admit, she does put the fear of God in me, but she really needs to be taken down a few pegs."

"Trust me, anybody who knows Santana Lopez would probably agree with you there, but why fight it? Face it, she's in charge of one of the best things about our lives. What member would really want to challenge that?"

"Oh, I can think of at least one", mumbled Quinn, as she took a sip of her wine.

Blaine stared at her. He couldn't help but laugh a little.

"What", she smiled, defensively.

"You better not be planning anything, Quinn. I know how that diabolical little mind of your works, so I'm warning you now, don't challenge her."

"Don't you worry about it", she said, noticing that Blaine was looking down at his phone for what seemed like the hundredth time since they'd gotten there."Who are you texting?"

"Kurt. He's being weird. I don't understand what his issue is today, he knew I was having lunch with you right now. Yet, for the past like forty-five minutes, he's been asking me all these damn questions about where I am. It's almost as if he's-"

"Trying to find out where you are, so he can crash the party", asked Quinn, as she glanced towards the restaurant entrance.

"Yeah, exactly", laughed Blaine."What made you say that?"

"Aside from the fact that him and Rachel just walked in...nothing at all."

I know, it's short, you can't deny...it was a lot for such a short chapter lol. Thanks for reading guys, Love you all. Reviews are love.