After an 11 hour flight they are finally able to stand up and stretch. Thankfully for Santana over the last 6 years in the army she has developed the capability of sleeping anywhere, allowing her to get a good rest.
As soon as they step of the plane they are immediately struck with the heat and humidity of the country. Even though it is like 9 at night. Due to the many times they have been here Santana and Puck have managed to experience all 4 seasons and have agreed that the summer and winter are the worst two seasons. This is as in the summer it is very hot, dry and dusty and in the winter the temperature drops to extremely low. Luckily for them they have arrived at the end of winter so it is starting to warm up to a nice temperature for the spring before it gets too hot.
"Right gather your shit and lets go find our bunks" Santana tells the squad when they are all awake. She receives nodding head as most of them are half asleep still and not really with it.
They all walk over to the set up command centre and are told that they are in 4D. The squad then unpack all there necessary items and some personal ones in the area assigned to them. Once they have all settled they say night to each other and go to their bunks for an early night, as they will most likely be up early tomorrow morning.
###
The morning came quicker for Santana than she wanted. For some reason she found it hard to relax and sleep. But she put on a smile and got up to have some food before the guys in the squad ate it all. As they are like bottomless pits.
"Hey Amy what's for breakfast" Santana asks as she spits her first with bowl full of something.
"Its porridge" Santana pulls a face at this. "Serg it is really good though. Try some" Amy says whilst holding out her spoon.
"That is good. Were can I get some?" Santana hums as she passes the spoon back.
"Go through that tent over there" Amy points to a tent in front of them to the right.
"Thanks Amy. See you in a bit, when I tell ya what we are doing today". Santana shouts over her shoulder as she jogs away.
###
"Ok guys today we have been put on helping a local village to build a new school, as the material they need for it has arrived" Santana says after talking to the command centre.
"Awesome" Jared says."I've always really enjoyed making things" he then absent-mindedly says causing everyone to laugh as they never pictured the Texan born guy to like building stuff, as they always see him writing in a book or reading a book.
" Alright well everyone gather there things meet back here in 15 and you'll be assigned things to do when we get there" Santana says as she is the first one to recover. The squad go and grab what they need whilst Puck hangs back with Santana.
"You alright San" he queries whilst studying her.
"Yeah just didn't sleep very well last night is all".
"Ok, cool. But if anything is bothering you, you know I'm here for you" he says his voice having a hint of seriousness to it.
"I know and I'll never forget that you are" she responds patting him on his chest and walking in the direction of the bunks. "You coming or are you just going to stand there day dreaming with a squirrel on your head" she laughs as she breaks out into a jog knowing he'll come after her for that comment.
Puck scowls and breaks out into a sprint to catch her. "Oi Lopez I will catch ya" he shouts but she just laughs and carries on running to her bunk.
###
"Morning Sergeant" a corporal who looks to be in charge of assigning people says when she exists the truck.
"Morning corporal".
"Ok, can I have 5 people on digging the foundations, 2 on carrying material to the correct places and 3 on making chairs and tables" he asks Santana while looking at his clipboard with the lists of jobs on.
"Yeah sure. Myself, Puck, Jack, Jordan and Jared will dig the foundations. Connor, Blake and Amy can do the tables and chairs. Leaving Nick and Joe who can do the carrying of material" the squad nods in agreement. " If you want at lunch you can swap but for now that's the job roles" Santana commands.
They then all put there gear down that they don't need and get to work.
Its a hot day and the children who are not helping there parents or helping build the school are passing water out to everyone. A young girl who looks about 13 is handing out water to those digging the foundation.
"Thank you" Santana says politely to the girl. "Hey, what's your name?" She asks when she hands the cup back.
"Tamira" the girl says.
"That's a nice name. I'm Santana" she says holding her hand put it shake the other girls hand, who reciprocates the action. "So, what do you want to be when you grow older?" Santana queries as she rests her arms on the shovel she is using.
"Mmm I think I want to be a doctor, so I can help people get better" Tamira responds shyly.
"Wow, well I think that is a great thing to do" Santana smiles back, loving the girls aspirations. They carry on chatting for a few more minutes before Tamira's name gets shouted by her mother telling her to come get something to eat.
"Well it was nice meeting you Tamira. I hope you do become a doctor as the world could always do with a few more" the girl grins at Santana's words before saying bye and waving back to her as she runs off to her where her mother is waiting.
"You're always so good with children" Puck whispers in her ear behind her making Santana jump and swing her fist into his stomach.
"Fuck that hurt" he says doubled over, making everyone around them laugh.
" Well next time Puck don't sneak up on me" Santana says with sass before going back to work.
"Err I forgot how hard you hit" Puck grumbles, still bent over trying to get his breath back.
"Dude, do you like not learn that everytime you sneak up on Serg her immediate reaction is to punch whoever it is" Jordan sniggered.
"I forgot. Damn this heat is frying my brain" he says as he stands up and reaches for his shovel slowly to got back to work.
###
By the end of the day, which is only like 4 in the afternoon, almost all the chairs have been made and a quarter of the tables are done as well. 4 average sized class rooms have their foundations done and another one is half done, leaving only 3 more to be dug out. Making the load on them tomorrow a lot easier.
It was just past 5 when they got back to base. The girls decided they were going to have showers whilst they guys said they have one later and went off to talk about what they call 'men stuff'.
The girls chatted about random things as they were showering.
"So Amy how is that handsome man you call a fiancée?" Blake asks as she is drying off and getting her clothes to put on.
"You better not be wanting to make a move on my man there B" Amy responds whilst pointing an accusing finger at Blake making Santana laugh. "But he is doing rather well if I do say. When I called him the other day he apparently had bought us a puppy" she laughed at the thought of her fiancée, Tristan, looking after a dog.
"Well at least it will be a test to how responsible he is for when he knocks ya up" Santana states rather bluntly, making Blake laugh at the glare received at that comment.
"Hey, I ain't getting prego anytime soon Serg. After all I have a killer body to maintain" Amy says as she steps out of the cubicle in a bra with her towel around her waist.
"That you do" Santana smirks, receiving a wet towel to the face from Amy. Leaving her spluttering and setting Blake off laughing again.
"Oh God I do love it that I got to know you two, you make my life so much more interesting than it was" Blake says after a moment.
"Aww the feelings mutual" Amy says as she comes up behind Blake and hugs her. "Come on Serg you know you want to join in on the hug and that your glad you met us" Amy urges with shrug in Santana's direction.
"Alright" she gives in and joins them. "You know I consider you two the best girl friends I've ever had" Santana then confesses in the moment of silent. The other two girls just nod knowing this rare affection is rare and quite often just present for fleeting moments.
"Anyway enough of this mushy and emotional shit" Santana says as she moves away from the hug to gather her stuff.
The girls follow year lead and head back to their bunks to dump everything off before finding the guys.
###
It doesn't take long for them to find the guys who are waiting outside of the food tent. They then just muck around for a few minutes before they are allowed in to get their dinner.
During dinner it is decided that the group will have a basketball group, to relieve some stress and do something fun. The teams are Santana, Jack, Jared, Connor and Nick versus Puck, Joe, Blake, Amy and Jordan.
As they are getting set up some other squads come and sit near the side lines to watch. Puck then grabs some random dude to referee the match. Puck's team starts off with the ball and the game is on.
His team passes the ball between them a couple of times before start working the ball up the court. Joe fakes a pass to Blake then spins around Santana, before going for a 3 pointer, that then bounces of the rim. Luckily Puck's there and manages to tip the ball over into the hoop.
Santana then passes the ball to Connor from the backline, before making a dash up court and calling for the ball. Before the other team have covered her, she's gotten the ball and shoots a 3 pointer which sinks into the hoop without touching the back board or the rim. Making it 2-3 Santana's team.
The back and forth plays continue for about half an hour before the two teams start to tire. They decide to put in their best player for a 1v1 and the first to score wins the game and bragging rights.
Jared goes in for Santana's team and Puck for his team. The ref throughs the ball up and Jared tips ot to himself, gathering it before trying to dribble around Puck. Who stands his ground and follow each of Jared's movements. However this is causing Jared to get closer to Puck's hoop. After a few more times of trying to dribble around Puck, Jared fakes going right then spins left before racing towards the hoop going up to lay it in. But the ball is blocked by Puck's hand, a large round of 'Oohs' is heard. Puck then gathers it and races it towards Jared's hoop. He gets just inside the 3 pointer line before letting a shot rip which hits off the back board and sinks into the hoop. His team then jump on him whilst sticking their tongues out at the other half of their squad. Other squads then come up to congratulate them.
"Well played" Santana says coming up to Puck and giving him a friendly hug.
"Duh of course it was after all I am the best player here" Puck says with a smug look on his face.
"Asshole, ya just got to go and ruin a moment don't you" Santana says laughing lightly.
"Of course I do. Its my speciality" Puck grins. The two of them make there way towards the rest of the squad.
"Come on guys lets go have fun somewhere indoors, its getting a bit nippy out here" Nick points out. Everyone agrees and starts to make there way towards the bunks.
###
When they get back to the bunks, Santana finds a package on her bed. A small grin forms on her lips as she knows what it is, although there is a small pang of sadness in her chest knowing that there won't be anything for her. She then picks it up and walks over to the others, putting a smile on her face.
"Hey guys its your lucky day" she says as she holds up the mail to her squad. All there eyes light up and if you look carefully in some of there eyes there os even tears. This is as getting mail isn't quite regular, as you could be moving around a lot so it takes ages for it to get to you.
She starts passing all the mail out and once there is nothing else to hand out everyone retreats back to there bunks. Santana just goes and lies on hers staring up a nothing wishing that she had someone, so they could send her stuff like the others get. It doesn't take to long before a shadow appears over her and a large body is wrapping their arms around her.
"Hey, apparently Sarah has just gotten onto the varsity cheerleading squad" he says with a grin.
"That's awesome" Santana says glad that Puck doesn't ask her questions on how she is feeling write now.
"Mum also says that you have to come back with me after we have finished here, to visit her as it has been to long" Puck carries on.
"I would like that I miss Linda and Sarah" Santana says after a pause.
"Good, I'm glad that is sorted" Puck sniggers, knowing that if she didn't say yes his mother would ring her up and have some choice words, that would probably make her feel like a scolded little kid again.
A little while later he leaves to go to his bunk after saying night to everyone. Leaving her to let her mind run wild for a bit before she drifts off to sleep, with that funny feeling making its appearance again.
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Hope everyone is enjoying it. A couple more chapters then Brittany makes her appearance.