A/N: Okay, update time. It took a while, but here is one of the chapters you've all been waiting for. Don't forget to Review… Please.

Enjoy… :]

Santana had spent the last 2 weeks trying to figure out what was going on with Brittany. Sometimes she tried not to care, sometimes she tried to understand, but nothing came to her. She even went as far as to make a list.

Brittany is always sad

Never wants to go home (if Ethan's there)

Rude to her dad

Called me stupid

Just the thought of her Girlfriend and Best friend saying something so hurtful, was just too much to continue.

She sat at a desk with multiple books of various sizes spread open covering the majority of the surface. Her hands gripped the hard back of a book, as her eyes struggled to follow the horizontal line of words. Black and white began to mix together, along with the mind of the reader as she attempted to do some summer reading. In order to get her mind off of nothing and everything, she released her phone from its charger and texted Noble.

10 minutes later at the Supermarket.

"Hey Noble, thanks for getting me out of the house." A short smile was sent before Noble shrugged his shoulders.

"No thank you. You're the one helping me grocery shop. Plus I haven't heard much from you in a while. What's up with that?" He grabs a cart and began to wheel it through the entrance.

Santana looks to the ground. The tall caramel haired boy laughed, earning him a questioning look. "Would it happen to be girlfriend problems?" Santana slowly nodded.

"Well I think she's my girlfriend." Green eyes met brown in shock.

"You think? How do you not know?" the basket decreased in speed, before coming to a stop. Santana's eyes wondered for a short time before she started to speak.

"I haven't talked to her in like, a couple of weeks and I just don't know. We never officially broke up."

"Mmmhm" the bottom lip of the male was pursed up as he nodded his understanding. The basket started to move again along the tile floor. "So, do you want to break up with her?"

"No!" the amount of urgency in her voice was unintended. She lowers her head and watched each step she took. "I mean, I don't know. There's something going on with her, I know there is, but it's like she wants me to figure it out."

Noble shook his head, "That's how girls are, always wanting you to figure stuff out for yourself." His elbow nudged Santana's ribs. "You should know, you are a girl." A brief laugh was shared. "Besides they always give you enough information, you just have to open your eyes, to see it." He said nonchalantly as he grabbed a box of cherry Toaster Strudels. Santana's head was bowed once again. Noble threw the box into the basket and scratched his facial stubble. "Look Santana, the next time you see her, just watch her body language it'll tell you everything you need to know. Okay?" A sharp glare was sent in his direction.

"You haven't even met her, how do you know how she acts?" the brunette teen spat as she lent her weight to the left.

Letting out a quick chuckle, Noble looked at Santana. "I haven't even seen the girl, but I don't need to, to know. Let's take you for instance. You raised your voice and shifted your weight. You're obviously agitated by my observation."

A play punch and laugh are projected toward the man. Once again he shrugs his shoulders, and looks to the shorter teen. "All of that College seems to be working, huh?" they laughed and made their way out of, the freezer section.

An hour later

Noble sent Santana to get black olives while he went to grab some athletic tape. On his way to the sports section he seen a peppy tall blonde gracefully dancing through the halls. He began to formulate a strategy to talk to the girl, because she was defiantly his type. Hot.

She twirled down the aisle stocked with water bottles and, go figure, athletic tape. A smile grew on the face of the man, but was quickly replaced by an animalistic scowl.

A man about 12 years older than Noble, maybe 35 came up from behind her. Noble hid around the corner and watched the scene unfold.

Brittany reached for a bottle on the bottom shelf and analyzed it carefully. Soon she felt the warmth of a human approaching her from behind. Quickly she spun around ready to release her wrath on the person who thought it was okay to stand so close to her.

Once her eyes locked with lustful eyes that were so familiar, her fire died and fear arose. She looked from left to right, and no one was in site, no witnesses, or so she thought. Noble stood from his crouched position, as Brittany was shoved up against the shelves. As he quickly yet silently strode down the aisle, he watched as the perpetrators fingers slid across the cheek and thigh of the fidgeting girl in front of him.

Half way down the aisle the gentlemen yelled out, "Hey!" Brittany's head snapped in the direction of the voice as the pressure on her chest and back were relieved.

"What?" the irritated older man spat.

"What are you doing?" the young man said sounding protective and curious.

"Hey kid, you should mind you own business. Me and her are having a private conversation."

Disbelief flashed across Nobles face. "Private conversation? The way you were all on her didn't look like a 'conversation' to me." He looks over to Brittany, who stood visibly shaking. "Are you okay Miss?"

Folding her arms over her chest she looked to the ground and nodded.

"Ya see? She said she's fine. Now get lost."

Taking a few steps forwards, Noble reached out for Brittany. His extended hand was slapped away before reaching the distressed teen. By instinct he pushed the older man, causing a fight to break out.

The once almost vacant aisle was now surrounded and filled with curious shoppers that heard the screams and pleas of the blonde teen.

Noble was on top of the man on the floor with his arm pulled back and hand balled up in a fist. Before he could strike the man again, he felt delicate hands restrict him from following through.

Looking behind him, he noticed that the hands belonged to the girl he was protecting. Her eyes were filled with tears as she pleaded to him to, "Stop hitting my dad. Please."

Completely confused Noble restated, "Dad?" Brittany's sobs grew louder as she nodded.

The green eyed college student was to say the least thrown off by the statement, but before he could think more about it, he felt the knuckles of the man beneath him plant firmly on his chin. A collective "Oww!" came from the crowd.

Quickly snapping back Noble clenched his fist again and cocked back his arm, accidentally hitting Brittany's face in the process. He swung and returned the punch to Ethan.

A few of the stores employees broke through the crowd and pulled Noble off of Brittany's father, as she wiped the blood off of her left eyebrow. Once he seen what he had done he apologized continuously, before being dragged and thrown out of the store.

Santana still couldn't find the olives, after asking every worker she saw and walking up and down every aisle. She reached for her phone to text Noble, but as she pulled it out of her pocket it became to ring. Looking at who was calling her she smiled and answered. "I was just about to call you. I can't find these damn olives, and I refuse to look anymore. I've asked everybody and no one knows where those little fuckers are."

The other line was silent for a while. "Don't worry about them." Santana knew something was off by the tone of his voice. Her playful demeanor fell, "What's wrong?"

A heavy sigh could be heard from the man, "I got in a fight."

"A fight? With who? Why?..."

With a muffled laugh Noble answered, "Calm down with all the questions, just let me explain. There was this hot girl..." Santana rolled her eyes at the thought. "…and I followed her into the sports section. Just when I was gonna make my move, this older guy comes up behind her, scaring her, then pinned her to the shelves, practically rubbing on her."

"Okay, so what does that have to do with you!" curiosity had a hold on her.

"Well I went to see what was going on and I ended up fighting the guy that attacked her."

"So you attacked her attacker." she laughed.

"That's not even the worst part. Guess who the guy was?"

The brunette searched her brain for the answer then realized, "How the hell am I supposed to know. I don't know her." or so she thought.

Noble laughed his reply, "I guess you're right. Anyways it was her dad!" Santana's face scrunched in disgust.

"That sick son of a bitch. Eww, who could do that to anyone, let alone their own kid?" She shivered just thinking about it.

"I know right." the line went silent once more. "Oh, there is one more thing. I kind of accidentally, not on purpose, hit her."

"You did what? That poor girl just can't get a break."

"It was just a little gash on her eyebrow. And I didn't mean to hit her; she was trying to stop me from kicking that perv's ass."

"Wait, she tried to stop you from protecting her? Why?"

"Look Santana, if I knew I'd tell you, but I don't. All I know is I got kicked out for protecting someone."

Santana erupted in a fit of giggles. "They kicked you out?" her laughter continued for a few moments, "Well you did the right thing. How noble of you?"

The man smiled and shrugged his shoulders, even though his friend couldn't see him, "What can I say. My parents must have been on to something."

Santana had a very eventful day; she spent most of it with Noble joking around. He seemed to always know what to say. He really was a good friend to her. The only reason he wasn't as involved was because he was in college and about six years older.

She now sat in her room trying to read the same book from earlier. This time she actually got through the pages without reading the same paragraph twice, due to a loss of concentration.

After Noble dropped her off they texted for a short time before he stopped texting her back.

Santana's phone rang and hopped around on her night stand. Getting up, she placed a mark in the book then closed it. Assuming it was her college friend, she didn't bother to look at the callers ID. "Couldn't get enough of me? I know. I'm irresistible." she said with a playful yet seductive voice, followed by a laugh. "What's up Nob?" The line was silent. Beginning to get annoyed Santana started to lose her patience. "If you're not going to say anything I'm going to hang up."

"No, wait!" Santana's eyes went from not amused to genuine shock.

"Brittany?"

"Hi."

'Hi' Santana hadn't come into contact with Brittany in over two weeks and all ah had to say was hi? Santana was never one to be lost for words, but this was an unusual circumstance, and she was speechless. "Santana, are you still there?" the brunette teen nodded her head, before realizing she was on the phone.

"Uh, yeah, yeah." she coughed out then faced palmed herself.

"I know we haven't spoken in a while, but I need a ride." a deep breath is released. "I wouldn't ask, but I don't have anyone else. I need you."

Santana didn't know if it was how sad Brittany sounded, or the fact that hearing the blonde's voice made her remember that Brittany still was her girlfriend, that she still loved.

After thinking it over Santana was now the one taking the deep breath. "Where are you?" the question didn't come across as harsh or irritated, but drained. Santana didn't know how to feel right now. She didn't know where Brittany was or why her parents couldn't get her. She didn't know anything.

"I'm at the dance studio, it's right next to..." the blonde said shyly before being cut off.

"Brittany, I've watched you dance in that studio a million times. I know where it is."

Again the line was silent. Santana took the lead and spoke first. "I'll be there in twenty minutes."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome." and with that the call ended. Santana grabbed her keys and headed out.

She pulled up to the studio at eight o'clock to see the blonde standing outside alone waiting. Brittany walked over to the car, opened the door and sat down shutting the door behind her.

The car ride was silent, except the music that played quietly in the background. When Santana pulled up to Brittany's house she came to a complete stop, and put the car in park. They sat in another uncomfortable silence, neither of them looking at each other.

Santana couldn't stand this anymore, "We're here." she simply stated.

Brittany reached for her door handle stopping a few inches shy. She took in a deep breath and released it, before turning to Santana.

"I think we need to talk."

Keeping her face forward, "I don't have anything to say to you." clearly lying she turned her head toward the window as she played nervously with her fingers.

Brittany reached over and placed her hand lightly over Santana's. Not used to the contact she flinched, but found comfort in the warmth of her girlfriends touch.

For the second time that night she looked at Brittany. Blonde hair cascaded down over her left eye blocking Santana's view of piercing blue eyes. She used her hand to brush the dangling hair out of the way, exposing a small gash on her eyebrow. Running her thumb over it Brittany winced.

"What happened?" Brittany grabbed Santana's hand and pulled it away from her face. Right then the brunette watched her body language for a clue.

Brittany looked down at her lap, 'intimidated', then at Santana.

"Brittany." she then began to look everywhere but at Santana, 'trying to avoid the subject'. "Look at me. I know you've been hiding something, for a long time now and I just want you to tell me. I don't wanna have to read your mind. Is it me?"

Nothing. The blonde just shook her head 'no'. "I mean is it your mom or Ethan?"

The cringe Brittany tried to hide didn't go unnoticed by Santana. Noble was a genius, reading body language seemed to help. She started to think, 'If I keep this up I'll figure this out in no time.'

"Okay so Ethan hit you?" she asked carefully and curiously.

Looking back at the brunette Brittany spoke. "No, I mean he was there, but it was a guy at the supermarket, but it was an accident."

Confused she asked, "A guy at a supermar... Oh my God!"

Santana's head began to spin as she said those words. Every clue given, every hint dropped every detail of everything finally made sense. She aimlessly stared directly at Brittany as her brain wrapped around the situation.

Brittany crying, acting out, saying rude comments, over all acting out of character was because of her dad. The one that was supposed to protect her was the one hurting her. Santana knew instantly that Brittany was the girl Noble tried to stand up for.

The cut on her eyebrow brought it all together. All of her old questions were answered and a wave of new ones crashed in.

"You locked yourself in the bathroom?" at first Brittany was taken aback by the question.

"Yes, but that was a long time ago and..."

Santana raised her hand cutting the blonde off. Her talking was confusing her. Continuing to think out loud, "And when you were little you did the same thing which means..."

Brown eyes went wide, "…he did this before." Santana knew all she needed for now, but Brittany looked confused.

"Who did what?"

"Ethan. He's the one that molested you all those years ago, and he's the one who did it recently too."

Brittany's head began to bow down, but Santana was to close. "No! Look at me!" the authority in her voice scared Brittany into obeying.

"Did Ethan molest you?"

Blue eyes bounced off every surface in the car, as her legs began to shake. "Brittany!" Santana yelled. There was no more time for games.

Tears rushed from Brittany's eyes as they finally met Santana's. "Yes okay, is that what you want to hear?"

The vibe on the car shifted; something about saying it and hearing it out loud made it so much more real.

"It doesn't matter anyways, the last time was like a week ago and he was sorry and wouldn't touch me again."

"The last time? And you believe him! After what he did to you?" Santana yelled.

"He's my dad!" she loudly projected her voice.

"B, you can't protect him. We have to tell someone."

"No!"

"No?" Santana had been confused before, but never more so than now. "And why the hell not. He molested you. He will not get away with this."

Brittany looked at Santana as Santana did to Brittany. Their chests heaved and hot air exited their mouths.

"Get out." Santana seemed unusually calm. Brittany looked at her confused.

"What?"

"Did I stutter? Get out of my car." she states a little more aggressively.

"No, I'm not..."

"Get the fuck out of my car! Now!" Santana wasn't playing nice anymore. Brittany jumped out of the car immediately.

She crossed her arms over her chest as Santana started her car. "And where are you going?" Brittany said annoyed, even though she was terrified.

"Brittany I love you, and I will not let that Asshole get away with this." and with that Brittany let the tears reenter her eyes as Santana sped down the street.

Santana asked Brittany questions, and tonight, she got answers, and now it's Ethan's turn.

Ok so question time... Where do you think Santana should go...to Ethan or Grace or Someone else.

Do you think Grace knows something…?

Should Santana tell, is it her place to tell? Oh and do you guys like Noble? Let me know what you guy's think. Thanks for reading. :]

And if you want to follow me on Tumblr at kyler-ific ... (I follow back)