I have some extra time to update so I thought I'd go ahead and move the story onward! Last update I killed Santana's mother :( Sorry about that emotional trauma! But it will get better soon enough! I hope everyone had a safe and fun Halloween! Anyway, enjoy the update, tell me what you think, and thank you, thank you, thank you for all the wonderful feedback I'm getting!
…
Santana hadn't remembered blacking out after letting the news of her mother's death sink in. She didn't remember falling to the floor and hitting her head on the corner of the work bench inside the trailer at the motocross tracks. When she woke up next, she wasn't in the trailer. She was laying down on something soft, but she was still outside.
The medical tent, she thought.
"S-santana?" There was a familiar voice—Brittany's voice—that spoke up as she stirred awake.
"Mami…" Santana rasped out as her eyes fluttered. "My m-mom…"
"Sergio called me and told me baby…I'm so s-sorry…" She could hear from the way Brittany's voice broke that she had been crying.
Finally, Santana's eyes fully opened; her head throbbed as light invaded her eyes. "I need…I need to go see my family…" She tried to sit up but was stopped by Brittany's gentle hand on her arm.
"Not now, you need to take it slow…you hit your head when you passed out…the medic said you have a slight concussion. No driving or vigorous activity for a couple days…" Brittany lovingly stroked Santana's hair out of her face.
"Brittany…I have to go there now, I need to be with my dad and my brother…" Santana squeezed her eyes shut as her headache intensified. She hissed in discomfort and laid back down on the cot.
"Shh…I'll take you okay? My dad is getting the trailer all loaded up and we'll be able to leave soon, just relax," Brittany cooed.
Santana let out a mix between a choked sob and a whimper as her voice broke softly, "My m-mom is d-dead, Britt…" She felt tears fill her eyes.
The look Brittany gave her could only be described as heartbroken. She hated seeing Santana so hurt and fragile. She knew Santana was eager about rekindling her relationship with her late mother, and now she would never have the chance. Brittany reached out and took her girlfriend's shaking hand, squeezing it. "Shh…I'm here baby…she's not in pain any more and she loved you so, so much, San."
"She didn't deserve to die…" Santana sobbed.
"I know San…I know," Brittany cried a few silent tears.
"Brittany, is Santana awa—oh, good," came James' voice, "I'm very sorry to hear about your mother, Santana," the older Pierce nodded solemnly.
Santana only sniffled and nodded a little. Brittany kissed her temple before looking at her worried father. "Are we ready to leave?"
He nodded, "I pulled the trailer around so it's less of a walk for Santana."
"No need, I got her." Brittany didn't give Santana time to react before she stood and scooped the petite girl into her arms bridal-style, carrying her out of the tent and towards the trailer. She stepped gingerly onto the vehicle and laid her girlfriend on the small couch inside.
"Y-you didn't have to," Santana protested weakly as she closed her eyes. Brittany gently lifted Santana's head and sat down before replacing the Latina's head in her lap. Nimble fingers ran through her hair and the oh-so-familiar soft voice of Brittany lulled her to sleep before she heard the reply.
….
It was only thirty minutes before they arrived home. Santana was still fast asleep and Brittany had no problem carrying her inside and up to her own room, knowing Santana would prefer to wake in Brittany's bed.
"How is she?" Susan asked worriedly once Brittany returned to the kitchen.
"She's hurting," Brittany began before adding, "Emotionally, more than anything."
Susan gave a sad nod and put a comforting hand on Brittany's shoulder, "She'll pull through though, won't she? Losing your mother is just…devastating." Brittany remembered when her grandmother had passed away a few years ago. Susan had been just as crushed as Santana was now.
"I need to take her to her family later tonight. She needs to be with them and I want to be there for her," Brittany replied numbly.
"You can take my car; she can rest in the back seat that way," Susan offered.
"Thanks. I'll wake her in a few hours. In the meantime, I'm going upstairs to check on her." Brittany left the kitchen after hugging her mom in thanks. When she walked upstairs, she heard several strained whimpers coming from her room. Panic rose in her chest and she hurried into her room, her heart clenching when she saw Santana thrashing on the bed, her eyes closed and cries of distress leaving her mouth.
She's having a nightmare, Brittany thought. Brittany moved to the bed and laid down, taking Santana into her arms and hushing her gently, stroking her hair and kissing her head, whispering soothing words to ease her girlfriend's mind. After a minute or so, Santana finally relaxed in Brittany's arms and nuzzled into her neck, falling back into her deep slumber. Brittany breathed a sigh of relief and looked down at the sleeping girl. Santana looked so fragile and helpless, even in her sleep. All Brittany wanted to do was take her pain away and make it all better, but she knew all she could do was be there as Santana mourned her mother. She was about to doze off when she heard a buzz come from Santana's phone, which was on the bedside table. Brittany looked over at it curiously and picked it up.
1 New Message: from Rachel
Rachel? Brittany thought. Why is Rachel texting Santana?
Brittany was unable to stop herself from opening the text, and what she saw made her flare with anger.
Rachel: Okay, I don't know if you're ignoring me, because I know you saw the message I sent earlier, but we need to talk. I know you don't want to, but we were together for too long not to talk about it. You can't just leave after high school with no explanation and not even a single word to me when you told me you loved me not a month before graduation. You and I have both clearly found better people to be with but we owe it to ourselves to talk about what happened. Please don't ignore me. You're too important.
Santana hadn't told her the whole truth again. Brittany read the text a million times, trying to process it. She wanted to wake Santana up and ask her why she'd kept her past a secret. She wanted to call Rachel and make her regret ever coming to Lima to begin with. She wanted to take out her anger on everyone in her path.
But she couldn't. She had to be there for Santana. Santana needed her far too much for them to talk about Santana's lie. But they would talk about it. Sighing in frustration, Brittany carefully slid out of bed and went to take a shower.
…
It was about six o' clock when Brittany decided to wake her girlfriend. She sat on the edge of the bed and reached out to gently shake her awake. "San…Santana, wake up."
"Britt?" Santana's eyes opened slowly and she looked over at the blonde. "What time is it? Are we going to my parents'?"
Brittany just nodded, still bitter about Rachel's text message, "Yes, we're leaving soon. I'm going to drive you. My mom is letting us use her car because it has more room for you to rest on the way."
Santana sat up a little and nodded before slowly moving to get out of bed, her eyes droopy with exhaustion and her eyes red and swollen from crying all afternoon. "Okay…I'm just gonna go change." Brittany nodded as well and watched as Santana moved around to the other side of the bed. She stopped in front of Brittany, who quickly understood and stood up as well, wrapping her arms tightly around the tired girl.
"Thank you for taking care of me…I love you," Santana whimpered into her neck.
"…I love you too, San. Always."
…
By six thirty they were on the highway, headed to Santana's hometown. They had been silent so far; Santana sat in the front seat in a pair of sweats and her hair in a loose ponytail. Brittany had just stared at the road, determined to save her own troubles for later, when Santana was better, but she was beat to it when Santana checked her phone. The brunette visibly stiffened and locked her phone, shoving it into her pocket and looking out the window.
"Was that Sergio?" Brittany asked, feigning ignorance. She knew exactly what Santana had looked at.
"Huh? Oh…yeah…he just told me that the funeral's in two days." Lie.
Brittany pressed her lips together and nodded, "I'll let my mom know we're staying, then. Can she use your car since we have hers?" Santana gave a small nod, biting her lip.
"The keys are on my night stand," she replied blankly.
…
They arrived at the Lopez home around nine. Diego welcomed them with a sad smile and helped them get settled in Santana's old bedroom. She hadn't been in it since she got kicked out. Nothing had been moved or changed. Not one speck of dust was altered from when Santana had last seen it. She stood in the doorway for a moment, Brittany behind her, and took in the sight.
"It's been a while since I've been in here."
"Your mother used to come in here," came Diego's gruff voice, "used to look at all your things and talk to you about her day. Well, symbolically talk to you, like being in your room would somehow send all her words to you in hopes that you might come home. She really did miss you, mija."
Santana exhaled and slumped onto the edge of the bed as her father spoke. She was bawling by the time he stopped. Brittany moved to sit at her side, rubbing her back as Santana repeated the same words she'd been saying all day.
She's gone.
…
Sergio arrived about an hour later; he hugged his father and the girls and quietly retreated to his old room in the basement. When Sergio was upset he tended to keep to himself.
Dinner was awkward at best. Brittany had gone to sit down on Santana's right side, but the Latina burst into a fit, saying how that was her mom's seat. Brittany had been surprised and felt guilty for not asking where to sit, but she had simply muttered a broken, "Sorry," and moved to Santana's other side. They still sat a place for Maria, and when the time to say Grace came, Diego was the one to speak as they all joined hands and bowed their heads.
"Dear Lord, today we have suffered the greatest loss we can suffer. The loss of a wife, mother, and friend. Please welcome our Maria with open arms and keep her safe in your grace. We know she will be happy with you and that she will look over us by your side. We ask that you keep our spirits high as we mourn her loss, and ask that you give us the strength to carry on, all while celebrating her memory every day until we pass on. We ask that you bless this food that Brittany was so kind to prepare for us this night, and that you allow her to feel at home with us. Thank you for every day, Lord. In Jesus name we pray, Amen."
"Amen."
…
End note: I don't practice any form of religion, but I hope that prayer did justice to those who do. Happy November and thanks for reading!