So... how has everybody been? I've been better. To say the least. Just the typical adult stuff, lost of financial issues and whatnot.
Anyway, enough about me. Tell me something, did anybody else cry after "On My Way" aired? Or was I the only one? Even if I was, so what.
I'm trying to push the chapters out and I'm starting to feel like they're losing quality... I really hope that's not the case.
This isn't beta'd as I wanted to get it out to you guys ASAP. So all mistakes are my own and nobody elses. I'm going to start work on 24. Chapter 24...is the first part of the trial. Chapter 25 will be emotionally draining, as it'll be Quinn's testimony and you guys will FINALLY find out all of the pain and suffering she endured. Then... once that's past I'll be able to skip some time to get this baby here :D
The First 24
Chapter 23
March 13 – 5:20AM
"I always hated flying." Quinn kept her arms around Rachel's waist.
"I know. But I also know you'll sleep for most of it. You always sleep on the plane. It's only a six hour flight honey. Then you get to see Brittany and Santana again." She knew the mention of their friends would help her wife relax some.
The trial was in four days. Four short days before she'd be faced with her attacker once more. To make matters just a bit worse, it was being held in the same courtroom in which she met him ten years ago. "I wish you could come with me." Quinn rested her forehead against the shorter woman's – allowing her eyes to close as she savored the last few moments of contact with her wife before two days apart.
"I am coming with you, just not at the same time." Rachel tilted her head up slightly to place a lingering kiss on her wife's lips. "You need to get going. You still have to get through security and your plane leaves in 40 minutes."
"I… really don't want to go."
"Sweetie, you're starting to sound like a little kid who doesn't want to go to school in the morning."
The blonde just pouted at her wife. Usually her pouts would work, but this time, she wasn't so lucky as Rachel just glared at her. "Alright, fine! I'm going." She smiled softly before kissing her wife one more time. "I promise to call as soon as I can turn my phone back on." The brunette nodded and stole one more kiss and a lingering hug before pulling apart. "I love you Rach."
"I love you too Quinn." Rachel stayed near the gate, watching her wife as she made her way through the line of people. She rested her hands on the divider, her eyes never leaving her until she was out of sight. After letting out a heavy sigh, Rachel pushed herself upright and began the walk back to the garage where the car was parked. She honestly worried about Quinn. More so than she'd ever lead on. On most nights when her wife would wake up crying, Rachel woke up with her but never said a word. The actress figured that if Quinn needed her, she'd wake her up.
As much as it pained Rachel that Quinn never directly woke her up, she knew the broken woman needed time to heal. Things had progressed so smoothly over the past few days. Which had Rachel wondering if all that hard work was dangerously close to tumbling. Especially with the trial in a few short days.
Buying the plane tickets was like the icing on the cake for the entire situation. It was all becoming real. It wasn't just something that was talked about between them. No. Actually planning the trip back to the big apple cemented everything in place.
Rachel just hoped Quinn could pull through all of it in the end.
March 13 – 2:30PM
"I don't like airports." Brittany stated as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
Santana idly sipped her Starbucks coffee. Most of the things her wife said over the years just rolled off her shoulders. "Why not B?"
"Because. Look at all those people who have to say goodbyes to the people they love. It's so sad." Brittany pouted as she watched people near the gate hugging for what felt like forever.
"Yea, but look at all the people who get to see the people they love." Santana tilted her head toward a soldier who'd just come through the terminal to be greeted with his wife and daughter.
Brittany's eyes followed the direction Santana was motioning toward and couldn't help the huge smile that covered her face. Sadly, it only lasted for a minute before it turned back to a frown. "But what about when he has to go back?"
The Latina sighed. "Why don't we just think that he's home for good and he doesn't have to leave his family anymore?"
"But we don't know that San."
"Can't we pretend? Today's suppose to be a happy day." She lifted her cup to her lips as her eyes landed on another pair of people. It was a businessman, yapping away on his cell phone, until another man came into view with a bouquet of flowers. She smiled softly as the man in the suit immediately ended his call to hug the flower man. "There ya go B. Look at them."
"Aw, that's so sweet." Brittany rested her head briefly on Santana's shoulder. It only lasted for a minute before she shot straight up and glared at her wife. "Why don't you ever get me flowers?"
The Latina rolled her eyes playfully. "Because you're even more allergic then Quinn is."
"Oh yeah… I miss Quinn."
A fresh smile overtook her face at the blonde's randomness. Some days were like an emotional roller coaster with Brittany. She could easily go from crying to bouncing off the walls in the matter of seconds. And today… seemed like one of those days. "Q should be getting here soon." She paused to check her watch, then tilted forward to look at the board that was near them. "Says her flight's landing. I say another 20 minutes and she'll be at the gate."
"Good, because I don't want to look at people anymore."
"Why?"
Brittany's eyes became locked with a woman with an obviously fake tan. "Because she looks like an Oompa Loompa."
Santana's hand flew up to cover her mouth as she nearly choked on her coffee. "Oh my god…" She coughed a few times to finish clearing her throat. "I love you Britt."
The blonde turned to her wife with a confused look on her face. She never really did understand why Santana laughed at a lot of the things she said. The woman really did remind her of an Oompa Loompa. "Do you think if I go talk to her she'd let me in the chocolate factory? Even if I don't have a golden ticket."
Santana never had the heart to tell Brittany that there was no such thing as Willy Wonka and that it was all just a movie. "I don't think so Britt, I think they're pretty much on lock down."
"Oh darn." Brittany's arms folded over her chest as she leaned against the back of the bench they were both seated on. "I want some candy now though."
"I'll get you some on the way home."
"Can I have nerds?"
"Nerds don't actually make you a nerd B."
Again the blonde just pouted. "Darn."
"I'll still get you candy though."
Brittany wrapped her arms around the smaller woman's shoulders and hugged her tightly. "Can we get some for Quinn too?"
"Mmhm." Santana glanced up at the board to check the status of the flight. Sadly, it still wasn't at the gate yet.
"What do you think her and the baby would want?" Brittany allowed her head to rest against her wife's.
Santana pulled back some to give her wife a sideways glance. They hadn't mentioned much about Quinn's pregnancy since they'd found out, so to hear Brittany talk about it like it was the most natural thing in the world threw her for a loop. "We'll ask her when she gets here."
"Where is she?"
"Stuck in a plane on the tarmac."
"Can we get McDonald's too San? I want a Big Mac now."
Santana's eyes closed for a brief moment before she rested her head against the side of Brittany's again. "Hey B?"
"Yeah?"
"Did you remember your medicine this morning?"
Brittany thought for a minute. That was all Santana needed to confirm her suspicions. "I don't remember."
Santana tilted her head to the side to place a gentle kiss on Brittany's lips. "It's okay. I forgot to remind you."
"Now arriving at Gate 4. Flight 1794 from Los Angeles, California."
"At this time we would like to thank you for flying United Airways and have a great day."
Quinn let out a heavy breath but made no attempt to move out of her seat right away. She simply pulled her phone from her pocket to turn it back on. Once it booted and connected to a signal, she saw two new text messages.
Beth: I know the trial's in a few days and I remembered you saying you were flying back to NYC today. Just wanted to wish you luck
Quinn smiled softly at the message from her daughter. She tilted her phone to the side to open up the full keyboard and replied with a simple 'thanks.' Once that message was sent she opened the other one – from Rachel.
Rachel: I know you're in the air right now. I just wanted to tell you that I made it home okay. It already feels weird that you're not here with me getting ready for work. But it's only two days apart. I think we can handle it, right? Will you tell Santana and Brittany hi for me, and give them a hug and kiss? Call me when you can. I love you so much.
Instead of replying with a text, Quinn waited until she was halfway down the tunnel toward the terminal before dialing Rachel's number.
"Hey honey." Rachel's voice chirped through the phone after the second ring.
"We just landed. Well, not just, but I'm in the tunnel right now."
"How was the flight? Did you sleep any?"
The blonde fixed her purse on her shoulder as she stepped out of the main line of people to have her conversation. She didn't like to feel rushed, and flying always made her feel that way. All she wanted was to take her time, it felt weird to her to be back in New York again. "I tried, the guy beside me was snoring louder than a chainsaw so I just played games on my phone."
"Were you playing Angry Birds all flight?" Rachel's laughter soon became contagious and Quinn couldn't keep herself from joining in. "I'll take that as a yes. I don't see what the big deal is about that game."
"It's addicting, that's what the big deal about it is." Quinn glanced up just in time to see a taller blonde barreling toward her with a huge smile on her face.
"Quinn!"
Quinn barely had a chance to brace herself before Brittany nearly tackled her with a hug. "Hey B." The shorter blonde instantly relaxed against the body of one of her best friends. "Rach… I'll call you back okay?"
"Sure, I love you."
"I love you too. Bye." Quinn ended the call and slid her phone into her pocket so she could properly wrap her arms around Brittany's waist. "God, I missed you guys." Her eyes closed as soon as she felt Santana's arms slide around her as well.
Brittany pulled away first, allowing Quinn to turn to give Santana a true hug. "Hey Q." Santana whispered into her dear friend's ear.
"Hey S." Quinn whispered back for a moment before placing a gentle kiss to the Latina's cheek. After a few short moments, they parted and Quinn shifted closer to Brittany to place a similar kiss on her cheek. "Was told by Rachel to hug and kiss you guys for her."
"Oh, like you wouldn't want all up on this on your own." Santana smirked at the shocked look that overtook her friend's face. "You know you want it." She nudged Quinn gently before starting to head toward baggage claim.
"Oh screw you."
"If you want to."
"Can I watch?" A million watt smile quickly became plastered to Brittany's face at the thought.
Quinn just laughed softly before rolling her eyes at her friends. "Can we just get my bags and go? I'm hungry."
Brittany looped her arm with Quinn's as they waited for her luggage to be unloaded from the plane. She proceeded to tell Quinn about her and Santana watching the people in the airport. She also talked to her for a solid five minutes about the pros and cons of eating McDonald's while pregnant. Needless to say, there weren't many cons.
Quinn really did miss her friends.
March 14 – 8:30AM
"Are you ready for this?"
Quinn didn't answer as she followed Santana into the office building. It was the first time she was in there since the day she disappeared. She wasn't ready. Well, she was, until she saw the building come into view and Santana parked in her parking space in the garage. Her entire body tensed when she felt Santana place a hand on her lower back. It was just the two of them that morning, Brittany had a rehearsal that she couldn't get out of. Her head turned to look at her friend before giving her a shy smile.
"Are you okay?" Santana continued to pry. Still, she received no response from the blonde. "Look, you know it'll be just you and Sarah in that room. Unless you want me in there too." Quinn shook her head. She felt ashamed over what happened to her. She didn't want to talk about it but she knew deep down, she just had to. She had to tell Sarah everything that happened.
"I'll be fine." She took a deep breath before walking into the conference room. She smiled softly when she saw Sarah sitting at the far end with papers scattered around her.
"Hey… look at me." Santana carefully gripped her friend's cheeks, forcing their eyes to meet. "She's not going to judge a thing you tell her in there. And…" Santana let out a shaky breath before continuing, "I know it's going to be hard, but you have to tell her everything Q. You know how it works in there… you'll just be on the other side of that table."
Quinn closed her eyes – trying to calm herself under Santana's touch. "I'll be okay San."
The Latina pressed a friendly kiss to Quinn's lips. "I'll be in my office finishing the clean-up. Tell Sarah to call me if you need me for anything."
"I will, I promise." Quinn pulled away from her dear friend to step closer to Sarah. "Good morning Sarah."
Santana hovered near the door for a minute before sighing and leaving the board room. Once she was safely in her own – now bare – office, she dug her phone out of her purse.
Santana: Hey B. Q's not doing so hot right now
She sat down in her chair before turning to look out the window. She was a little surprised to hear her phone go off with a new message.
Brittany: She in her meeting?
Santana: Yea. Just went back. We need to cheer her up after
Brittany: Well, we can take her shopping
Santana: Don't think that'll help
Santana ran her fingers over her face as she thought. What could they do to help Quinn relax? The minute her hand touched her hair, it hit her. She had the perfect idea.
Santana: B. I got it!
March 14 – 4:00PM
"I just want to go back to your place and sleep San."
Santana ignored her as she continued driving away from her apartment. "We're going to meet Brittany."
"San, I'm serious." The blonde glared at her friend once they reached a red light. "Just take me home." She didn't want to be around people. She just wanted to be alone. After she'd spent all day reliving everything that happened to her – she felt sick. Her hand carefully rested on her stomach as she felt a tiny flutter. "San…" Her heart rate automatically sped up as she felt the flurry of movement in her lower abdomen. "San…" She tried again to get her friend's attention.
Hearing the strain in Quinn's voice drew her attention. "What's wrong?"
"I feel… the baby moving."
The car came to another stop at the next light. "What?"
Quinn felt an array of emotions in the few short moments. "I felt… i-it moved…" Her fingers clenched at her stomach.
"Wait… what?" Santana subconsciously reached out to press her hand beside Quinn's on her stomach. "It's moving?"
"I… I don't know if you can feel it… but I do." She took several deep breaths to calm her nerves. She felt like crying. She wanted to smile. She wanted to scream. Everything was hitting her at once. It was all too much. After being forced to relive the entire ordeal, Quinn didn't need this on top of it. "Please just take me home."
"B and I wanted to surprise you with something." Her statement just earned her a glare. "Don't look at me like that." She pulled her hand away from her best friend's stomach to focus on the road. "Remember junior year when you needed a fresh start and we took you to get your hair and nails done?"
"That's when I was struggling the most." She smiled softly. Santana could tell it was fake, but at least it was an attempt. "You want to take me to get my hair done?"
"Well, yeah. It helped you all those years ago, maybe it'll help you now. I mean, we can't do your nails because of the baby. Guess you could do a basic manicure, but not the whole shebang ya know?" Santana suddenly blushed at how much she was rambling.
"Hey Santana?"
"Yea?"
She reached over the center console and gripped the brunette's gently. "Thanks."
March 15 – 3:30PM
Quinn ran her fingers through her hair – a nervous smile on her face, as she stood with Brittany and Santana at the gate Rachel would be arriving at. "Are you sure she'll like it?"
"Stop messing with it. It's perfect." Brittany swatted her fellow blonde's hands away from her hair. "She'll love it."
Santana looked up from her coffee with a smirk on her face. "If you weren't married I'd so be after you right now. That haircut is hot as hell."
"See?" Brittany pointed out. "Now stop messing with it it's totally sexy."
Quinn blushed heavily. She'd always been a self conscious person. She feared that Rachel would absolutely hate it. "I know what you're thinking Quinn. Remember the look Rach gave you when she saw your hair during Nationals?"
"Yea."
"See? Now chill the fuck out and go meet your wife. They just announced her flight's at the gate, but you were too busy worrying about your hair."
Quinn glared at Santana before she took a deep breath and turned toward the gate.
Rachel held her purse snuggly to her shoulder as she practically pushed her way through the crowd of people. She was anxious to see her wife as well as her best friends. What she wasn't prepared for was the sight of her wife with half of her hair. Her steps faltered for a moment as her breath caught in her throat. "Quinn?"
"What do you think?" It was the first thing out of Quinn's mouth once Rachel was in front of her.
Without a word, Rachel reached out to run her fingers through the silky blonde hair that now barely covered her ears. She finally spoke after placing a gentle kiss to her lips. "I love it."
"Really?
"Told you she'd love it Q." Brittany appeared at her side before enveloping the smaller starlet in a tight hug. "Hi Rach!"
"Hey Britt." Rachel returned the hug. She placed a gentle kiss on the taller blonde's cheek before moving to Santana.
"Come here short stack." The Latina couldn't help her smile as she shared her own hug with Rachel. "How was the flight?"
"Good." Rachel's smile faltered when her eyes glanced over Santana's shoulder to see a growing number of people pointing toward her and talking. Some were even starting to take out their phones and cameras for pictures. "I think we should hurry up…"
Quinn followed her wife's line of sight before frowning. "Should of have known this would happen…" she trailed off. "Come on Rach." She pulled her own sunglasses off her head before taking off her old NYU hoodie and passing it to her wife. Rachel just gave her a grateful smile before slipping it on over her own sweater. Being overly hot was a price to pay to avoid the attention she was already receiving.
"If they get any closer I'm getting security." Santana's protective nature toward her friends kicked in as she glanced at the crowd. "Let's get your bags Rach." The Latina hooked her arm with the smaller brunette's before talking to the baggage claim. She took it as her responsibility to be the protector in their little group.
Quinn smiled warmly at Santana. She'd always loved how overly protective the Latina was over everybody that was close to her. It was a trait that Quinn was thankful for. Especially with as weak and helpless as she felt lately. She knew Santana would always be there for all of them.
"Are you coming back to Broadway Rachel?" A random man asked – getting a little closer than any of them would have liked.
Quinn instinctively wrapped her arm around her wife's waist. She was used to the attention they'd received when they lived in New York. Now that Rachel was moving to Hollywood, the blonde knew it would only get worse with the attention.
"No. I'm here for other reasons." Rachel answered calmly. It wasn't in her nature to ignore any fan that approached her, regardless of the circumstance she may have been dealing with. Thankfully, the man seemed satisfied with the answer and left them alone. "I just want to get out of here." Rachel tucked herself further into Quinn's embrace. She tried her hardest to ignore the stares from the people she knew where surrounding them. She knew Quinn really didn't need the extra attention with the trial in two days.
"I missed you." Quinn whispered against the brunette hair that was against her neck.
Brittany smiled at her friends before pulling her wife a few steps away. "They need this right now." Santana just nodded. "Maybe Quinn will actually sleep with Rach here."
"I kind of doubt it baby. Q's a wreck right now no matter how okay she seems… she's really falling apart." Santana brushed her cheek against Brittany's. "Remember what you get like around the anniversary?" She hated the feeling of Brittany tensing, but knew it was the only way she'd understand. "That's how Q's feeling now."
"Oh… okay."
"There are my bags." Rachel reluctantly pulled away from Quinn to grab the first of two red suitcases from the line. Quinn quickly grabbed the other one. "The crowd's growing. I think they're starting to recognize both of us honey." She laced her fingers with Quinn's.
"Yeah. I don't need this right now."
Rachel saw the stressed look on Quinn's face at the sheer number of people watching them. "Let's just go guys."
Santana made sure to stay behind Quinn and Rachel, so she could keep a better eye out on her friends. Honestly, she'd do anything within her power to keep them all safe. They were her family and meant the world to her.
March 20, 2012
She was pissed. No… she was fucking pissed. All she saw was red. And it was the red of Karofsky's blood sliding down his face as she continued to punch him with everything she had. She'd had enough of him tormenting everybody and calling her best friends faggots was the last straw.
"Santana, stop it!" Brittany fought to pull her girlfriend off the bleeding boy. It was a losing battle though, because whenever the Latina was infuriated, she was like superwoman. "San, come on, let him go."
"Let me go Britt!" Santana screamed as she wiggled against the blonde's grasp to get back to Karofsky as he lay on the floor, covering his face with his hands.
The man on the floor sat up with the help of one of his football buddies. None of which jumped in after Santana tackled him to the ground. They all knew what kind of a woman she could become when she snapped. All of them were too afraid to get hurt themselves.
"Santana, he's not worth it." Rachel stepped in front of the Latina to try to calm her down.
"But the things he said to you and Q…"
"Whatever Santana. It's true, you're nothing but a bunch of little faggots that're gonna burn in hell." Karofsky dabbed at his busted lip as he glared at the four women in front of him, two of which were covered in blue slushie.
"That's it, you're dead!" Santana successfully broke free of Brittany's grasp to jump on Karofsky again. It took Quinn to finally be able to pull her off and get her away from him before she did actually kill him.
"Look at me San." Quinn grabbed her best friend's cheeks and looked into her eyes. "Rach and I are okay San. Why'd you do that?"
It was only Quinn and Santana in the room. Quinn had heard Brittany mention something about getting Rachel cleaned up. "Because he fucking deserves to know what it feels like to be hated on." Santana's voice was strained with emotion as she looked anywhere but Quinn's eyes. She was sick of being a victim of everybody else's hatred.
"San, look at me, please." Quinn waited until her best friend looked at her before she continued. "You don't need to protect us. Yea, he's a dick, but we'll be out of here in a few months. ALL of us will be out of here in a few months. We're all going to New York together San. Remember? Yeah there are going to be assholes in our lives, but we have to be stronger than they think we are."
"Fuck them!" Santana yelled out before she started pacing around the room. She was furious.
"Exactly Santana, fuck them. You can't let everybody get to you."
The Latina stopped in her tracks. She hated the feelings she had whenever someone attacked one of her friends, or her girlfriend. "I just don't like seeing you guys hurt. Okay?"
A small smile crept on Quinn's face as Santana's true colors started to show. She always loved Santana's protective nature towards the people closest to her. It was a quality that she prayed the fiery girl would never lose it as they grew older.
The flashback at the end was a last minute add-on to get some more length to this chapter. I'm not sure people will mind it. With the people watching Santana and Brittany did while waiting for Quinn... the whole time I was writing it, I could picture Brittany all excited and Santana just sitting there, agreeing with her while sipping her coffee. It was a cute mental picture :D
Don't forget to leave those reviews ;)