Disclaimer: I don't own Glee but I thought up the storyline :)

Thank you to all who reviewed, followed and added the story as a favourite :) I appreciate it and it inspires me to keep writing. Sorry this is so short but it's really just a filler chapter before things start getting more interesting. Hope you like it anyway :)

Chapter Sixteen

"Why aren't I getting any better?" Brittany asked looking at her therapist.

She was getting frustrated. She didn't feel like she was making any progress at all. How was she meant to get better if she wasn't getting anywhere? Well that was her opinion. She wanted to make everyone proud which included herself but she wasn't even proud of herself right now. How could she be? She still had that barrier that was stopping her and she hated it.

"Brittany, it takes time." The therapist said looking at her over his notebook. "I know it is probably frustrating and it feels like you have gotten nowhere but there is one thing we haven't spoken about, but I told you we would only speak of it when you are fully ready. Don't force yourself."

"I know." Brittany sighed in reply looking down at her fingers as she signed to him. "I just want to be better right now."

"I understand that. How have you been getting on with touching other people?" The therapist asked curiously.

Brittany shrugged. "I have tried and I succeed once like you know but I've touched Santana again since then."

It was true. She had tried. Just the other day when Santana fell asleep at her house when they were watching a DVD she reached over and traced her fingers over Santana's leg. It was okay since she was asleep and she had touched her before but she was the only one she could touch. No one else. Rachel heard about Brittany touching Santana and she was so happy but Brittany knew that deep down she was a little offended. It wasn't like she meant for it to happen or anything. She just felt like she could open up to her more than she could anyone else. Well, right now anyway.

"I do know yes, and I'm glad you have tried again since then. How did you feel when you did that?" Dr Parker asked whilst writing notes down in his notebook. "What made you want to do that?"

Truth was, Brittany only did that because it was Santana. She wanted to feel her for once instead of being too scared. She thought it would be a step in the right direction and it was. She could now touch Santana a little bit and she could say she tried.

"I felt...good. I wanted to try for Santana and I did. I can now touch her a little bit but she can't touch me."

Dr Parker nodded. "That's progress Brittany. It might be a small step for some people but from your point of view that is a huge deal."

"I know." Brittany agreed nodding her head. "I just wish I could hug her and hold her hand but it's a bit too much to ask for that I think."

"It is right now but when you think about it, when you get to that stage you will be happy that you took the time to get to that stage. Just right now, it will take some time but you need to allow that so you can progress." He told Brittany putting his notebook down. "But for now, every time you touch someone I want you to write it down. Write down who you touched, for how long and how you felt. Okay?"

Brittany nodded looking at him. "Okay, I can do that."

"Great. Now let's talk about your other friends. Who else do you talk to apart from Santana and Rachel?"

Brittany smiled finally happy to be talking about something she liked talking about. "Well I don't have many but I hang around with Rachel and Santana the most but also Sam, Quinn, Mercedes, Finn, Puck and Tina sometimes too."

"Are you close to them?" Dr Parker asked curiously picking his notebook back up writing more things down.

"Well no not really." Brittany said shaking her head. "But I could be and they respect that I don't like people touching me and I don't talk. They are trying to understand me though."

The therapist nodded looking at Brittany. "Okay so you could talk to them about things if you got closer?"

Brittany shook her head in response. "Only Rachel and Santana can know things. I can have other friends but none that I would trust as much as those two."

"Do you ever think you are putting too much pressure on them?" The therapist asked looking at her. "Or do you think they are happy to listen and help you?"

Brittany looked at him. "Do you think I am pressuring them too much? Should I not talk to them?"

"What? No, no, no Brittany. I wanted to know your opinion on the matter."

"Oh." Brittany said looking down. "Well maybe I am. They aren't therapists but they always tell me they don't mind helping me because they are my friends. Well Santana is more than my friend so I think she tries to help me more than Rachel."

"So you and Santana have talked about how you both feel?" He asked her looking up.

She nodded smiling. "Yeah. We both like each other but we're waiting until I have progressed before getting together since we wouldn't be able to do any things that normal couples do like cuddle or hold hands."

"Well how about you tell me about Santana?" Dr Parker suggested looking at her. "I'm sure you have a lot of things you can say."

"Yes!" Brittany agreed grinning. "Well she is smart, beautiful, a bit smaller than me, gorgeous brown eyes, beautiful black hair, her hands are small but perfect, she is so cute, she has an amazing voice and she can sing! God she can sing. I swear every time she sings my heart beats faster." Brittany explained looking at him. "And let's not forget how every time she goes out she makes sure to look her best and she does. She always does look perfect no matter what."

Dr Parker chuckled in amusement. "I see you like her a lot."

Brittany blushed. "Is it that obvious?"

"No of course not." He said shaking her head then looked at her smiling. "Well okay maybe you can tell, but I'm sure she loves that."

"I hope so." Brittany said looking at her hands as she signs

Dr Parker closed his notebook. "Okay so that is the end of the session. Is there anything you want to talk about before you leave?"

Brittany looked at him. "Well there is one thing."

Santana walked into school tired. She hadn't got any sleep the night before because she was worrying about the massive test that she had today so she had decided to study to at least cram as much information as she could. She remembered Brittany telling her she would be late today because of her therapy session which the school had authorized because of her situation. Only fair really. She really wished she was having a Spanish test instead since she would ace that without studying but no. It had to be friggin' biology. She didn't even like the subject which made things worse. She got to her locker putting her books into her locker when she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned and smiled.

"Hey Rach. What's up?"

"You ready for this biology test?" Rachel asked leaning against the locker taking a bite into the apple she was holding. "I tried revising but nothing went in."

Santana knew how Rachel felt. She nodded closing her locker turning to her friend. "I know the feeling. I tried revising last night but nothing worked."

"How are things going with Brittany?" Rachel asked walking with Santana as they made their way to lesson. "Britt told me about her touching you. Big deal that is."

Nodding, Santana agreed walking with the brunette. It was a big deal but the pair of them never made it seem like a big deal just in case Brittany relapsed and freaked out. "I know but we try not to make it seem like a big deal. We just take every day as it goes to be honest. Know what I mean?"

"I get it. Don't want Brittany freaking out." Rachel replied nodding. "Know the feeling. It's hard as you don't want Brittany being treated like she's different but you also don't want her going back to being scared."

They walked into lesson and sat down where there was a piece of paper on the desk. God this was it. It was an important test so if she failed that was it. Santana looked up at the clock wondering when Brittany would be finished with the therapy. Not like she would be able to do anything now. She wasn't even in her lesson.

"Exactly. She's at therapy now so I just hope she is okay."

Before Rachel could reply the teacher walked in telling them to put all books away and to stop talking. Santana looked up at the clock then began her test once the teacher said it was okay to start. She had to pass this exam so right now was not a good idea to have a blank memory. She sighed and leant her head on her hand working on her paper.

Santana finished her paper an hour later and handed it in walking out of the classroom. The corridor was empty which meant she could go to her locker without having to fight the crowd which she usually had to do. Santana walked to her locker and sighed in exhaustion. She hoped she did alright but that was no guarantee. She just wanted to see Brittany now to find out how her therapy went. Just as she closed her locker she turned around and saw Brittany walking towards her. She smiled.

"Brittany!"

"Hi Santana!" Brittany greeted with a smile on her face. "How did your test go?"

"Awful. I hate biology. You can cheer me up though." Santana responded leaning against her locker. "How was therapy?"

"It was alright. Nothing special. We did speak about you and Rachel and how I felt about relying on you both."

Santana looked at her curiously. "And what did you say about it?"

"I told them that you didn't mind and I asked if that was what he thought but he just said he was just asking how I felt. So I just accepted it and moved on."

"Well as long as you are happy then that's a good thing." Santana told her smiling.

"Yep. He wants me to keep record of who I touch and for how long. Like a diary type thing." Brittany went on looking at Santana. "Do you think that's weird?"

"No I think that's a good idea actually." Santana agreed nodding. "I mean you will then be able to see your progress from now up to in a few months and beyond that."

Santana was right. She would be able to see how well she was doing and she did like knowing if she was improving because right now, she didn't think she was.

"You're right as usual."

"Duh." Santana smirked. "But one thing that we can look forward to is your birthday tonight."

"I think you and Rachel are more excited than I am." Brittany laughed looking at her. "What did you get me?"

"Uh uh. I am not telling you that." Santana told her smiling."That is why they call it a surprise Britt."

"But...you want to tell me because we will be girlfriend's soon and then you'll have to tell me."

Santana shook her head. "I am not telling you. You will have to wait until tonight."

"Urgh you suck." Brittany said then folded her arms pouting.

"Aww don't be like that. You'll find out soon enough." Santana then moved towards her and whispered in her ear. "And I can guarantee you will love it."

Brittany felt a shiver move down her spine and nodded in response. Santana looked at her and chuckled before pulling away. It was adorable to her how she could get to Brittany. She was excited for the party tonight though. All of their friends would be there to celebrate and she only invited people that knew about Brittany and about her phobias so she wouldn't feel uncomfortable. She didn't want someone going up to Brittany and hugging her or something making her freak out.

"Where's Rachel?" Brittany asked looking around the hallway. "She still in the classroom?"

"Yeah I think so. She didn't follow me out."

She nodded and smiled shrugging her shoulders. "Okay well looks like it's just you and me. Can we go sit on the bleachers? It's a nice day today and I want to enjoy it."

Santana agreed and walked with Brittany down the corridor towards the field then went to sit on the bleachers. It was actually pretty nice just like Brittany said so they could sit out here without it getting wet. They even had entertainment with the football players on the field practicing for an upcoming match.

"I've been rude." Santana admitted sitting down beside Brittany when the pair of them found somewhere to sit. Brittany turned to look at her with a confused expression.

"How have you been rude?"

Santana looked at the blonde and smiled. "I haven't said happy birthday yet. Happy birthday!" She smiled when she saw the blonde giggle and nod looking at the floor then looking back up at the brunette.

"Thank you."

"Don't worry about it. You're excited about tonight though, right?" Santana asked nervously looking at the blonde who smiled at her.

"Of course! It should be so much fun. And plus as long as you are there and Rachel, then it should be good."

Santana smiled and turned to look at the footballers practicing. She enjoyed the time that she could have with her and how she felt when they were together. Santana couldn't wait to spend time with Brittany at her party later on that night. She didn't know why but she felt as though it would be a step in the right direction for the both of them. Why? She wasn't sure yet. But she knew that she would find out at the party.

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