Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews guys. I had a couple of questions asked that I should clarify. Sorry that I didn't before now.
Whatsvinyl : Santana is not in school, she has a job.
ErosEternaGlee: Santana lives in NYC, as does Quinn. They each lived separately. Quinn stayed with Jared, and Santana lived on her own.
So without further ado, here we go. (I don't own the characters, or the song! Song credit: Berlin) (Chapter title credit: Silverchair)
Chapter 3
As soon as Puck pulled up outside of Quinn's apartment building, Santana hopped out of the car and started toward the door, not waiting for the other two. She was ready to get this over with and get Quinn away from here for good.
Quinn had given her the key, so she just walked straight to the apartment and unlocked the door. She regretted not waiting for Puck and Quinn almost instantly when she was pulled inside of the apartment and shoved against the wall by her throat. Her wide brown eyes looked up into the angry dark ones of Jared himself.
"Well, you weren't who I was expecting, but you'll do. After all, it's your fault I'm in this mess you stupid bitch." Jared said in a low growl, his face close enough that Santana could feel his breath. "I'll show you what abuse is, you fucking dyke whore."
With those words his grip tightened around her neck and he pressed himself against her. Santana's hands gripped at his arm, trying her hardest to loosen his grip, to no avail. She was starting to find it hard to believe Just as he lifted his other hand to hit her, another strong hand caught his. Out of surprise, he let go of Santana and spun around to see Puck, who immediately punched him, dropping him to the ground.
"Nobody fucks with my girls." Puck stated as Quinn rushed to check on Santana.
"Q, you are Never coming back here, okay?" Santana told her, as she rubbed her neck. "That son of a bitch is crazy."
"I know San...I just...I couldn't get away." Quinn said softly, her head drooping.
"You ladies go get Quinn's stuff. I'll keep an eye on this asshole." Puck told them, kicking Jared in the side for good measure.
Quinn and Santana nodded and headed into the bedroom of the small, but nicely decorated apartment. The brunette knew that this was originally Jared's place, but that Quinn had moved in after graduating from Yale. She also knew that none of the furniture belonged to Quinn, therefore, it shouldn't be too hard to gather up her things.
The blonde got into the closet and immediately pulled out a couple of large suitcases, and begins filling them with her things. She tasked Santana to gather her clothes from the closet and showed her where her shoes were. Within half an hour, they had packed a majority of her things.
Santana looked around the room and saw one last thing that she knew belonged to the former cheerleader. Sitting on the nightstand of what San assumed to be Quinn's side of the bed, was a framed picture of herself, San, and Brittany. The Unholy Trinity as they were called.
Santana picked up the framed photograph and smiled at it, before carefully packing it in the suitcase, in between some clothes so it was cushioned.
"Is that everything, Q?" Santana asked her as they zipped up the suitcases.
"Yeah. The camera is right here, we got all of my clothes, my makeup, and everything else that I need. The rest can stay here. I don't want it or need it." She said as she took the necklace that he had gotten her off and headed back to the door, where Puck was standing menacingly over a disoriented and obviously startled Jared. She threw the necklace at him and walked out without another word, followed closely by Santana.
"That's fine. I didn't need your broken, bitch ass anyway. You are nothing but a skanky teenage mother that isn't worth a..." Jared started, but was cut off by Puck, getting down in his face.
"Don't you dare talk about her that way. Especially when evolving my daughter in the mix." Puck warned him, his protective nature flaring up even more than before.
"Why the fuck do you care? You left her to go PLAY soldier."
"Go where I was, and you tell me that's playing. I broke it off not to hurt her, because that wasn't fair. At least I was doing something honorable with my life. You, you're no man. Just an insecure piece of shit that gets his rocks off by bullying women. But that ends now. You'll be arrested and stuck in that jail cell for years this time." Puck told him, before slamming him back on the ground, taking Quinn's key and throwing it at him, saying as he walked out the door, "Don't come near her again."
"San, are you sure you're okay?" Quinn asked after Puck helped them carry her things in and left them for the night.
"Yeah, I'm fine Q." The Latina told her, as she flopped down on the couch. Quinn didn't hesitate to come over beside her and lift San's chin to look at her neck.
"It's gonna bruise." Quinn told her before going to the freezer and getting out a couple of pieces of ice and wrapping them in a clean dish towel. She walked back over to the brunette who was being exceptionally quiet, and gently placed the ice to her neck. " This should help a little."
"It's fucked up that you needed to know that Q." She finally responded after a couple of moments of silence. "That bastard almost killed you."
Quinn didn't respond. She just hung her head and nodded softly. When she finally looked back up she was met with watery eyes. Santana had shed tears over her. The only other time that she knew of that happening was after her wreck. She didn't know what else to do, so she reached over and caressed Santana's cheek tentatively, almost worried the brunette would pull away.
Instead, Santana surprised her by hugging her tightly, laying her head on Quinn's chest, her long dark hair masking her face. Quinn could feel her crying though. "San?"
"I almost lost you, AGAIN." Santana sobbed into her. Quinn layer back against the couch, so Santana as basically cuddling to her, as they laid down. "Just let me listen to your heart for a minute. I need to make sure it's really still beating."
The statement took Quinn by surprise. She couldn't help but run her fingers through the dark mass of hair on her chest. "I'm here San. I'm alive. Because of you. I owe you my life."
"Stop that. No you don't. You would have done it for me too. I know you would have." Santana tells her before lifting her head to look at Quinn. "You better get some rest. We have to be at the station in the morning. Take my bed, okay? I don't want you sleeping on this old thing with all of those bruises."
"I...I don't want to be alone. Please come with me? You have a huge bed. I just want you close. I feel safer with you." Quinn replied softly, not meeting Santana's eyes. She wasn't normally like this, both she and Santana knew it, and she knew that if it were anyone else, Santana would never let them live it down. But the two of them have had a mutual unspoken agreement since they got out of high school and all of the McKinley drama. They are always there for one another, regardless of their past, and nothing is ever spoken past the two of them.
Santana looked down into the hazel eyes that were looking into her own. The woman she once knew was hidden behind a broken, shell of a woman. Hollow and afraid. The very sight pissed her off more than she would care to admit. Her best friend, the head bitch that nobody fucked with, reduced to a scared, quivering little girl. It broke her heart.
Santana found it truly despicable that someone could intentionally harm another person to that extent. More so that it had happened to someone close to her. Sure she and Quinn had their slap fests and fights. But nothing like this. She couldn't help but think about how she'd act if it were Rachel or Brittany. Hopefully she'd never see it again in anyone she cared about.
"Of course." She finally answered, in the soft voice she reserved for special people. She had only used that voice before with Britt. She shook the thought from her mind, and got up off of the couch, and held out her hand to help the blonde to her feet.
As Quinn got up, Santana steadied her with her arm around the taller girl's waist, causing the blonde to chuckle.
"This seems familiar." she told the Latina who was looking at her questioningly.
"Prom." Santana said simply with a smile. She remembered the night vividly. It was an amazing feeling, being the person that Quinn trusted to be on stage with her when she showed the school she was able to stand from her wheelchair. She remembered sharing a look with the beautiful blonde as she held her steady, much like she just did.
To this day the song "Take My Breath Away" makes Santana smile. She wouldn't admit it, but she actually had used that as Quinn's ringtone for years. Which got her a couple of funny looks from Brittany when they were dating. She didn't care though. The song reminded her of that monumental moment and of her best friend.
Without warning, Quinn began to sing the song as she stood with Santana, reminiscing about their senior prom.
Watching every motion
In my foolish lover's game
On this endless ocean
Finally lovers know no shame
Santana smiled and then joined in, singing the same part she did at prom, perfectly in sync.
Turning and returning
To some secret place inside
Watching in slow motion
As you turn around and say
Take my breath away
Take my breath away
Watching I keep waiting
Still anticipating love
Never hesitating
To become the fated ones
Turning and returning
To some secret place to find
Watching in slow motion
As you turn to me and say
My love
Take my breath away
Through the hourglass I saw you
In time you slipped away
When the mirror crashed I called you
And turned to hear you say
If only for today
I am unafraid
Quinn looked into Santana's eyes, telling the brunette that she wasn't afraid with her.
Take my breath away
Take my breath away
Watching every motion
In this foolish lover's game
Haunted by the notion
Somewhere there's a love in flames
Turning and returning
To some secret place inside
Watching in slow motion
As you turn my way and say
Take my breath away
Take my breath away
The two just stood in the living room for a moment and smiled at one another before Santana pulled away, due to the tension and intimacy of the moment, not wanting to make it awkward for either of them. The breaking into song wasn't new, damn Glee club turning their lives into a musical at random times. But this time, both of them seemed to enjoy. They both were wearing small smiles as they parted.
"I'm just gonna grab a bottle of water and brush my teeth. I'll be in soon." Santana told Quinn, who nodded and padded don the hall to the bathroom, so that she too could brush her teeth. She had all of her things here now, but she decided she wanted to keep wearing Santana's hoodie. She did however change into a pair of gym shorts instead of the long sweat pants. The hoodie was warm, and comforting. It smelled like Santana and right now, the Latina who made her feel the safest. She might not get her hoodie back, Quinn thought to herself with a little grin as she slipped under the covers.
Santana came in and saw the expression on the blonde's face. "What is that look for?"
"I'm totally not giving this back." Quinn smirked as she motioned to the shirt.
"Oh really?" Santana smirked before changing into some shorts and a tank top, slipping into the other side of the bed. "First of all, you are gonna be really hot in that thing. It gets hot in here at night. Secondly, that's my warmest hoodie. What makes you think you are gonna get it?"
"Cause I said so." the blonde shrugged as it were the most obvious thing in the world. "You can have one of my Yale hoodies."
"Ugh, and look like a nerd? No thanks." Santana told her, earning her a playful glare from the other woman.
"Actually, it would make you look smarter. Smart is hot. And maybe it'll get you a hot, nerdy girlfriend." Quinn told her.
"Well in that case, hand it over." joked the brunette as she turned away while Quinn decided to take her advice and change into a less warm shirt. She noticed how Quinn seemed self conscious because of her damaged skin, and turned away to be respectful. "Tomorrow that is, I won't need it tonight."
"Right, okay then." Quinn said before letting out a deep breath and laying down on her back.
"You okay?" San asked her, concerned.
"Yeah, just...it's been a crazy couple of days." the blonde stated before turning her head to face her friend. "Thank you, San. Really. I don't know what I would have done without you."
"Let's not think about that, babe. Get some sleep, okay?
"Okay. Goodnight San."
"Goodnight Q." Santana said softly, turning off her lamp, and facing away from Quinn. She noticed the tossing and turning coming from the other side of the bed, so she did the only thing she could think of. Santana rolled over and pulled Quinn into her arms.
"San, what are..."
"Shhh. I'm protecting you. You need this, we both know it. Just trust me." Santana told her softly before kissing the crown of the blonde's head that she had tucked under her chin, and wrapping her arms around her firmly and protectively.
"Okay." Quinn agreed before letting herself melt into the Latina's embrace. She immediately felt better, and took a deep breath, inhaling woman's scent and wrapping her arm around San's small waist as she felt the brunette rubbing her back softly and comfortingly. It wasn't long before either of them found sleep, both having been exhausted emotionally and physically from the last couple of days.