Yet again, my proof-reader has abandoned me, so sorry for any mistakes. Hope you enjoy it either way! :D
The sun was shining brightly when Finn walked inside the old pub with his arms full of things and a stupid hat on his head. Quinn was sitting with a coffee when she noticed the tall man bumbling his way through the pub. She laughed at the sight of him and stood up to greet him.
"Do you need a hand?" Finn jumped a bit and almost dropped the things as he whirled around to face her.
"No, thanks. I got it covered" He smiled to her and walked further into the pub and dropped the things on a table. She chuckled when she saw what it was. He had brought everything he could think of and most of it was useless, but what to expect of a man who had never been outside the country.
"Alright. I better go. I´ll see you, Finn" She said and left the pub. Finn smiled excited as he scanned through his new bought things.
"What´s all this?" Finn heard from behind him and turned around to face Mercedes. Her arms was crossed and her foot tapping.
"Jameson asked me to join him as his chef. I´ll be leaving tomorrow" He said excitedly. Mercedes uncrossed her arms.
"What about The Mermaid?"
Finn slapped his forehead and looked at her with a sad expression. "I forgot to tell you" He walked closer to her. "You can manage it on your own, right?"
"Alone?!" She shrieked "But-"
"You´ll manage it. Either way, the only thing we´re selling is beer and some stew" He clapped her shoulder. "If something goes wrong or you need help, just go next door to Jackson. He has agreed to help out" Finn smiled. "I´m so excited!" Mercedes growled as she glared at him.
"It´s all great and stuff, but I´m not doing it" Finn´s smile dropped but shrugged.
"Yeah, I knew that, but you don't mean that"
"I do!" Mercedes replied angrily.
"Don't be mad on our last day together" He said and ducked so he could look her into her eyes. He pulled out a small gift and waved it around her face.
"I´m not mad!" Mercedes said and took the gift from him. He smiled at her.
"Great! Then we agree" He said happily and walked up the stairs with his things. "And don't pay any bills" He added. Mercedes smiled briefly before going out in the kitchen.
Santana pulled up in front of her father's office and walked into the office with a smile. "Good morning, Kurt" She said and sat down on his desk. Kurt sighed and looked up at her unimpressed. He knew she was about to try to get money out of him again.
"Your father wants to talk to you" He said as he wrestled a paper out from underneath her. He sighed as he saw how wrinkled it was.
"Oh" Santana said confused and stood up. "I-I better go in then" She walked towards his door, before she turned around again. "About what?" She asked cautiously. Kurt shrugged.
"I don't know" Santana nodded and knocked on the door before stepping inside, a smile plastered on her face.
"Hello, dad. Am I interrupting something?" She asked and sat down in front of him. Mario looked up from a document with an serious expression.
"Hello, Santana" He put down the paper. "No, you´re not" Santana took out an cigarette, but faltered when she saw the stern glare she got from her father. "I´m very touched about your interest in the office" He said sarcastically. Santana noticed.
"Hanging at a desk all day, is not something for me. You know that, dad" She crossed her legs and leaned back in the comfy chair. Mario looked at his careless daughter with a frown.
"Of this country´s inhabitants, a large percentage are "hanging at a desk" daily from nine to five, without it being equally as fun everyday" He spoke sternly and folded his hands in front of him. "If you just had a job and would make something out of yourself, instead of walking around doing absolutely nothing" Santana looked down at the scolding.
"I do" She spoke quietly.
"And pray tell is that?" He asked.
"Err, something" She mumbled. Mario looked unimpressed at his only child. He stood up and leaned against his desk in front of her.
"I´ve been worried about you lately, Santana and I´ve come to two solutions" Santana raised an eyebrow and waited for him to elaborate. "One of them was for you to work here at the office, but that thought is long go abandoned" Santana smiled widely.
"That was nice of you, dad. May I ask why?" Mario crossed his arms and looked seriously at her.
"You see, a bank called me yesterday, trying to confirm that you had the power of attorney in the shipping company. As far as I remember, you do not have that" Santana looked momentarily shocked and confused, until her father elaborated. "You have purchased a speedboat for 35000 dollars and paid your bills in the company´s name" Santana looked down, biting her lip as she tried to think of something say. She was screwed and she knew it, but she looked up excitedly at her dad.
"Didn't I tell you? It´s a wonderful boat- "Mario fumed.
"I´m very worried that you are capable of doing something like this"
"Dad-"
"That´s why I´ve decided to use the second solution" Santana sighed.
"Alright, what is it then?" She leaned back in her chair.
"Belle is sailing tomorrow and you´re going along with them" Santana looked wide eyed up at him. "My hope for you is to learn something of this trip" He walked behind his desk again. "You´ll be gone for about six months"
"What?!" Santana screeched and abruptly stood up. "What about asking me if I want to go?!"
"No" Her father spoke shortly.
"You-you can´t just send me away like that, dad!" She leaned over the desk as she stared at him "I´m an adult and I have my own free will!" She was furious, how dare he?! Mario just nodded and looked gravely up at her.
"Indeed, you are" He leaned closer to her and Santana felt a bit intimidated. "And I tell you, if you aren't onboard on that ship tomorrow when it sails, you´ll learn the consequences when an adult has committed fraud!" Mario said and looked down at his papers, ignoring the stunned look on his daughter's face. She stood up straight and looked down at him.
"That was some tough words, dad" She spoke solemnly.
"But not to be mistaken, right?" He replied not looking at her. "We´ll talk later" He added. Santana nodded and walked slowly out of the office. She briefly looked back at him, before slipping put of the door. She swallowed hard before stopping at Kurt´s desk.
"I need 500 dollars" Kurt looked shocked. He hadn't heard her approach him.
"For what?"
"Clothes. I´m sailing away tomorrow "She answered. Kurt nodded and wrote out a check for her. "1000" She added with a tiny smirk. Kurt looked up at her, but only shrugged and wrote it for her. Santana sighed and walked out of the building.
Quinn was making sure everything was where it should be, and the ship was ready to sail. She had been running around since early morning, since the crew wasn't were they should have been. The harder she worked, the less she thought about Brittany. Sometimes she wished she had taken the time to talk to her again, but she was still mad at the girl. Quinn looked out at the sea, enjoying the cold breeze hitting her skin. She was interrupted as Jameson came out from the cab with Mr. Lopez in tow.
"I wish you the best on this journey, Captain and make sure you find that island" They shook hands.
"Pearl Island" Jameson said. Mr. Lopez smiled.
"Ah, now you remember the name" Quinn chuckled. Of course, he had tricked him. She looked over the deck and got a clearance from Puck, who was putting boxes into the kitchen. She still heard the Captains response and smiled.
"Yes, funnily enough I do" He laughed. Mercedes stopped at the stairs down from the ship. She was sniffling.
"Take care of the pub, Mercedes and if you need any money, just go to the bank" Finn said. Mercedes frowned.
"You don't have any money there" Finn smiled and shook his head.
"No, but the trip would do you good" Mercedes shook her head. Finn put a hand on her shoulder and squeezed it gently.
"Don't worry, Mercedes. We´ll take good care of him" Quinn said and smiled to her. Mercedes nodded.
"Take care of yourself, alright?" Finn said.
"You too, Finn" Mercedes replied and walked down the stairs and away from them. Finn and Puck watched her walked away as the waved to her.
"I´ve thought about making stew tonight, or should I do something else?" Finn asked Puck.
"Something else" He replied quickly. Finn looked affronted.
"Why? You know my stew" Puck smirked and rearranged the box on his shoulder.
"Exactly" He said and walked away. Quinn chuckled as she had heard it all. She looked down at her watch and walked back towards Jameson and Mr. Lopez with a small frown.
"I´m sorry, but I thought the Captain said we were sailing at noon?"
"We´re waiting on Mr. Lopez´ daughter" Quinn nodded and walked away. Great, some snobby kid.
"Do you think she had tricked me?" Lopez asked worried.
"She had sent a dozen of suitcases, so I don't think so" Mr. Lopez nodded. "There she is" He pointed at a red sportscar driving down the dock and stopping next to Belle. Quinn saw and thought she was right. A snobby kid. Finn looked down.
"Hey, Puck? Is she joining us?" Puck looked down and whistled.
"Yeah, hot chick it Mr. Lopez´ daughter" He replied and leered a few seconds before helping his mates again. Santana kissed her companion and let her have the keys to the car before stepping out of it. She kept looking back as she boarded the ship.
"Hey, you" She said and held out her bag towards Puck, who was passing by.
"Me?"
"Yes, could you bring this to my cabin?" Puck took the bag and nodded his head as he walked away. "Thanks" She said and waved to the girl driving away in her car. Mr. Lopez walked towards her and gave her a quick hug. Santana padded his back and stepped away from him.
"Have a nice trip, my girl" Santana just nodded and stepped behind the railing. He walked down the stairs and off the ship. It began to sail away from the docks as Mercedes waved to them all, not knowing Brittany was standing behind her, hiding from plain sight. Quinn noticed her but turned her back to her and stepped inside the cabin, not wanting to show her emotions. Quinn walked down the deck trying to walk as straight as possible. The waved was high and threw water onto the deck. Quinn just barely avoided getting soaked as another waved hit them. She was used to it, she wasn't fazed by it all. Even though she was young, she´s been on many trips so far and she expected many more in the future. She held onto the ships rail for support as she tried to find Puck. That man was hard working, so he was basically everywhere. She shook her head and would try later and walked up the stairs to Captain Jameson.
"So, where is that island?" She asked and leaned on the table in front of him. He scratched his head.
"Somewhere in the South Atlantic" He answered. Quinn frowned, of course he didn't have a glue about where it was. She breathed heavily and listened to him. "I´ve made some sketches of possible positions after my memory" He pulled out a worn-out piece of paper from his pocket. Quinn looked incredulously at him as he showed her the paper. "I should be about 16o latitude and about 17olongitude" Quinn was silent as she took the paper which contained coordinates and a poor drawing of the island. She ran a hand through her hair. They had absolutely nothing they could use, at least they had a cargo to deliver. "It´s not much" He added after he had studied their map.
"Er, no, not really. The area is only about 14000 sq. miles" She handed him the paper. "Does the natives know about how much the uranium is worth?" She asked him.
"No, who the hell should have told them?" Jameson said as he chuckled. "It´s going to be quite easy to get exclusives on the property"
"Alright" Quinn said and looked out at the sea. It was great to be back on a ship again, and with Captain Jameson, it was even better.
"How are you doing?" He asked her. Quinn looked back at the pilot who was also in the room, before looking at Jameson.
"I´m okay" She answered and felt the constant pain in her chest hurting a bit more. He had cried and sworn a lot these past days, but it wasn't something she would say to him even though she had a feeling he knew.
"It´s going to be fine, Quinn" he said. "Sorry, I´m meddling in your private life, but I feel like a father to you. I don't have many in my life, you know" He added and saw Quinn blush.
"You are" She muttered, but Jameson heard her and smiled. She looked up at him curiously. "Why don't you have-"
"I was too beautiful a bachelor. They all wanted to marry me" He laughed, and Quinn shook her head with a small chuckle. "Well, I´m not complaining. I´ve had a great life so far, both south and north of the equator" He picked up his binoculars and looked out at the sea. Quinn shook her head and walked back out on deck, in need of some fresh air. The blonde hair flew around into her face and she decided to pull it up in a bun. She took a deep breath of the sea wind, enjoying the salty taste on her lips. She saw Finn came running out as he threw up over the rails. She chuckled as he turned to her, a green tint to his face.
"How´re you handling it, Hudson?" She smirked as his hand flew to his mouth before he emptied his stomach again. She patted him friendly on his back as he finished.
"I´m fine…" He muttered, swaying on his feet.
Quinn chuckled. "I can see that. Just be sure you´re close the railing when you´re going to hurl again" She laughed as she walked away from him. Inside a cabin, Santana was lying on her bed, trying to hold her stomach. She remembered now, that she had always hated being on the sea, funnily enough when her father was a shipowner. She called out, when she heard someone pass by. Quinn heard and opened the door. She raised an eyebrow and looked sceptically at the woman in front of her. "Yes?" They had meet briefly and Quinn didn't know if she liked or disliked her. What she did know was that Santana was a spoiled brat and that she had something against.
"Get me something to eat and make it quit" Alright, dislike it is.
"Yeah, that's not going to happen" Quinn crossed her arms as she leaned up against the doorframe. "How about instead, you move your spoiled ass and walked down to the kitchen by yourself?" Santana sat up in bed and looked scandalized. Nobody spokes that way to her, or they´ll get their ass kicked.
"I´ll speak with the Captain about the way you speak to me" Quinn shrugged. A little scolding had never hurt her.
"Alright" Santana looked appalled about this woman carelessness. "I´ll get the chef for you if I find him" Quinn said and left the cabin. Soon Finn came through the door and swayed as he held onto the door. Santana looked surprised and sat further up.
"Finn?! What the hell are you doing here?"
"Food" He said impatiently. "Something you needed?" He never had liked this girl. Santana huffed.
"How long do I have to wait to get some damn breakfast?" She asked angrily. Finn looked up in thought.
"Well, if you don't pick it up yourself, probably a few months or so, but there´s coffee in the mess" Santana sighed.
"Can´t I get something else?" She laid back down.
"Do you want a bucked?" Finn asked.
"No" She sneered at him. He nodded and left the cabin. Shortly after he came through the door with a tray in hand. Santana swallowed hard when the smell infiltered her nose and reached out for the bucket in Finn´s hand. Finn chuckled and once again stepped outside with they tray in hand.
"I guess our guest didn't like the food?" Quinn smirked. She had been down to talk to the engineer and was about to walk back to Jameson when Finn came out. He shook his head, "Too bad" She said and took the break from the plate and walked away. She couldn't help it, she loved messing with the newbies.
The next few weeks went by quickly and they hit the warm weather. Quinn had dropped the jacket and was walking around in her shirt with a few buttons opened. Not exactly protocol, but it was so damn hot. Morocco is no joke and Quinn had made it very clear that nobody was walking alone when they sat foot on land. After making sure their cargo had been delivered and new was on the deck, Jameson, Santana and Quinn was enjoying some free time. They walked down the market place and Quinn noticed how excited Santana was.
"Miss, miss!" An old man yelled at them. He got Quinn´s attention when she saw what he had in front of him. "This, 20 dollars" He spoke in broken English. Quinn looked at the rug, which was quite charming.
"Yeah, right. 10 dollars" She bargained. Santana crossed her arms and looked around, when she heard music coming from inside at old building. She saw Jameson walk inside and decided to follow him, leaving Quinn outside. Quinn soon followed, rug in hand and walked to a table where Jameson was already seated. Quinn ordered a whisky and sat down. A beautiful woman stepped out from behind the curtain and began to sing. Santana was immediately captivated and smiled to her.
´I´m dreaming all day long about you´
´Though I don't love you, bel ami´ The woman walked around the bar and flirted with people, before she spotted Santana and went straight for her. Quinn shook her head and stood up to get another drink. The black-haired woman danced around her and dragged a finger on Santana´s shoulder. As she finished the song and walked away, Santana followed her with her eyes.
"Watch out, Lopez. She´s trouble" Jameson said and drank the last of is scotch. He felt something and looked down just in time to see a kid trying to steal his wallet. "What the hell?!" He grabbed the young boy´s arm to get it back. Meanwhile, Santana took the opportunity to slip away and follow the woman. Jameson sat down again and noticed Santana was gone. He sighed and yelled after Quinn, who was talking to Puck at the bar. She turned around and walked back to Jameson.
"Yes, sir?"
"Get Lopez, would you? She ran after Jeanett"
"Yes, sir" Quinn said and walked after her. Jameson shook his had and took of his cap to run a hand through his greyish hair.
"I got some kind of responsibility for the kid" He mumbled. The woman ran up the stairs with Santana on her heels. Santana saw just in time where the door closed after her and knocked on it.
"Entre" It sounded from inside the room. Santana opened the door and stepped inside with a tiny smile on her lips. She didn't see Quinn coming up the stairs, cursing at the Latino.
"Bonjour" Santana said smiling, for once glad that her father had forced her to learn French. Jeanett walked closer to her and ran a hand up between her breast, feeling her chest, while leaning closer.
"Comment t´appelles tu, cheri?" She whispered into Santana´s ear.
"Je m´appelle Santana" She replied. The woman smirked and walked away to put on some music.
"Pierre!" A man came out from behind a curtain with a smile. "Champagne" He nodded and walked out again. "Mon frère" She clarified. Santana nodded and sat down next to her. Quinn walked out in the hall, trying to locate in which room that stupid, naïve girl had gone. Hadn´t see listened?! She stopped and heard some music and followed the sound to a closed door. Quinn gently pushed down the handle, but as expected, found it locked. She rolled her eyes. Jeanett gave Santana a glass of champagne as she laid down on the diva they were sitting on. Santana smirked and took a sip of the drink. Just as she swallowed it, Quinn came flying through the door and landed ungracefully down on the floor. She sat up at fixed her cap as she smiled.
"Hello, Jeanett" Jeanett gave a little wave as Santana stood up to confront Quinn.
"What the hell do you think you´re doing?! Are you crazy?!" She yelled as Quinn stood up and fixed her shirt.
"Shut up!" Quinn took the glass and threw it against the wall. "One taste of that shit and you would have found yourself tomorrow morning, lying in the goddamn gutter with nothing!" She yelled into Santana´s surprised face. She had enough of this woman. "Am I wrong?" She turned and asked said woman.
"Comment?" She replied sweetly. Quinn rolled her eyes and turned back towards Santana.
"Come, lets- "Her eyes widened as she took in the two gorillas like men in front of them. "Oh, shit" She mumbled under her breath. She knew these men wasn't afraid to hit a woman. She smiled before bending down to pull out the rug from underneath them. "RUN!" She yelled and pulled Santana along with her down the hallway. They reached the stairs with the men on their heels. One of them grabbed her arm and pulled her against him roughly. She managed to twist her body around and kick him in the groin. He winched and fell on his knees before Quinn kicked his back and watched him fall down the stairs and out in the crowded bar. Santana had managed to avoid the other guy also as she watched him join his fellow. They breathed heavily and smiled briefly to each other before walking the rest of the way down the stairs and into the bar.
"Jeez" Santana said and sat down on the stairs, not feeling like participating. Quinn tried to locate Puck and found him in a fistfight alongside with Finn laughing. She scratched her neck before being pulled down by a nearby man.
"What the- "She yelled as she scrambled to stand and quickly smashed a nearby bottle on his head. She looked back at saw Santana kicking a drunk man away from her. A stool came flying and she took a step back, not wanting to get hit. Jameson stood near the bar laughing and throwing things. She found her rug but needed to hit a man in his face to get it. "Jesus" She winched and shook her hand in pain. God, she hated these fights. She walked towards Jameson. "Are we leaving?" She yelled over the noise. Jameson just nodded and laughed. "Come on, guys! We´re leaving" She yelled out to her crew. She spotted a sleeping Santana on the stairs and rolled her eyes. Of course, she drank some of that shit. "Bring Santana" She added. Puck nodded and lifted her up bridal style with Finn trailing along. They all left the continuing bar fight, with ripped shirts, black eyes and swollen hands. Quinn walked behind them all with her rug in hand, making sure everybody was following. She sighed and shook her head yet again. Her hand was going to be a bitch tomorrow, she thought.