Chapter 3
Quinn hurried to her car and found Brittany leaning into Mercedes in the back seat. Mercedes spotted the smaller blonde and said something to Brittany then climbed out of the car.
"How is she?" Quinn asked as she got to Mercedes.
"Quiet. I mean, I'm used to Brittany chatting away but she's barely said a word since we got out here." Mercedes looks at Quinn, her face wreathed in worry. "Quinn … what happened?"
Quinn sighed and gave Mercedes a quick run-down of the past 24 hours or so. Mercedes' eyes filled with tears and a look of horror passed across her features. "Oh, dear Jesus," was all she could utter.
Quinn nodded. "Yeah. So, I was thinking that maybe you'd be willing to help me out? Giving Brittany a break so she can maybe get some rest? I'm sure she's going to practically live at the hospital and, thanks to Sugar, she pretty much can. But she's going to need rest, food, showers, probably some homework help."
"I'm in. We can work out some sort of system tomorrow." Mercedes nodded. "Whatever my Troubletones' homegirls need."
"Thanks, 'Cedes," Quinn felt the tiredness trying to drag her down, "I gotta get Britt back to the hospital but I'll text you later with any news." She pulled the other girl into a quick hug before getting in the car and putting on her seat-belt.
Looking in the rear-view mirror, she caught Brittany's eye. "Did you hear anything I said to Mercedes?"
Brittany shook her head dully as Quinn started up the car and headed toward the hospital. "Sugar talked to her dad. You're gonna be able to get in to see her when we get there."
That caused a small spark of bright to show in Brittany's eyes. "Really?"
Quinn nodded. "Yeah. I guess he donates a lot of money and is on the board so he set something up so you, me, and Mercedes can go in. He's gonna have someone waiting for us when we get there to be a liaison between you and the hospital."
Brittany looked confused. "I don't wanna have to sleep with anyone, Quinn."
Quinn smiled. "Different kind of liaison, Britt. It's someone who'll act as a link between you and the hospital. So if you need anything … blanket, towel, pillow, pen, whatever … they'll be able to help you out."
"Oh, okay. That's alright, then. I don't want to cheat on Santana just so I can see Santana. That just wouldn't be right."
Quinn just smiled. Britt seemed to be coming back a little. Hopefully, being able to see Santana would help even more.
"Are we almost there?" Quinn could feel Brittany's excitement.
"Ten minutes, Britt. We'll be there in ten minutes."
xoxoxoxoxo
Brittany's POV
When they got to the hospital they were met at the door by a woman who looked to be in her late twenties or early thirties and was roughly Quinn's height; her light brown hair was pulled back into a tight bun and her light brown eyes sparkled with kindness behind thick green frames.
"Brittany Pierce?" She asked, stepping toward the two blondes.
Brittany stepped forward with a small smile. "I'm Brittany."
"Pamela Curwall," the woman held her hand out for Brittany, "Mr. Motta asked me to help get you settled and to make sure you have whatever you need during Ms. Lopez' stay."
Brittany shook the woman's hand and looked at Quinn. "This is my best friend, Quinn Fabray."
Pamela shook Quinn's hand. "Mr. Motta also mentioned you and … Mercedes Jones?"
"Mercedes will be by probably tomorrow," Quinn said, "we didn't know until just a few minutes ago that Mr. Motta had set all this up."
Pamela nodded. "Well, if you'll follow me, I'll take you to Ms. Lopez' room, introduce you to the security that Mr. Motta hired, and get you settled in with Ms. Lopez."
"Security?" Brittany's forehead scrunched up in confusion.
"Mr. Motta indicated that Ms. Lopez' parents are not to be allowed in Ms. Lopez' room until she's able to determine for herself if she wants to see them."
Brittany looked at Quinn. Sugar … that girl … Brittany shook her head. She always seems so self-centered and air-headed and then she does this.
They walked quietly through the hospital and to the elevators, riding up to the third floor.
As they exited the elevator they heard yelling and Brittany froze. "That's Santana's … it's Dr. Lopez." She snapped herself out of it and ran toward the noise.
"I'm a doctor in this hospital and that's my daughter in there! You have no right to keep me out!" He was yelling at two young men with bulging biceps in black slacks and black polo shirts with "Ace23 Security" embroidered in white on the left breast. "Hijos de putas!" He tried to force his way past them but they held firm.
"Sir, you're not on the approved list of visitors. We can't let you in." The young man sounded almost bored as he recited this.
"Get away from there!" Brittany shouted as she ran toward the room. "You have no right to be anywhere near her!" She stopped in front of Dr. Lopez, breathing heavily and feeling murderous.
"Maldita tortillera estupida! You have no right here! You are nothing to her!" Dr. Lopez took a step toward Brittany, likely expecting the blonde to cower as she usually did in his presence.
"I am the person who loves her. Unlike you! This is partially YOUR fault! Where were you when she needed you? YOU threw her away like garbage. You have no business here now." Brittany snarled, standing her ground against the older, larger man. This was her Santana and nobody was going to hurt her again as long as Brittany was around.
He took another, threatening, step toward the girl and, for the fourth time today, Brittany cocked her fist back and broke another nose.
Dr. Lopez screamed as he brought his hands to his nose. "Hijo de puta! You are all witnesses! I will see you put in jail for this, tortillera estupida! You think you can take my daughter and get away with it?"
"Sir, it looks like you broke your nose when you slipped and hit your face against the counter." One of the security guys said. "You should really be more careful. And get that looked at."
Dr. Lopez looked around in confusion. "I did not slip. That … that … girl hit me!"
Quinn shrugged. "I didn't see anything."
Pamela Curwall shook her head. "I just got here, I have no idea what happened. Gentlemen?" She looked at the security guards.
"He slipped." They both said at the same time.
"You should really get that looked at Dr. Lopez. As to this other matter, these gentlemen have a list of people allowed to visit this patient and you are not on that list so please don't attempt to enter this room."
Dr. Lopez scowled. "This is not the end of this!" He glared at Brittany. "No maldita tortillera estupida is going to keep me from my daughter." He said, storming off in a huff of impotent rage.
Brittany sagged and one of the security guards caught her and lowered her gently to the floor.
"Britt! You okay?"
"I don't know how Santana does it." Brittany answered dully.
"Does what, sweetie?"
"Stays angry and goes all Lima Heights," she looked up at Quinn, "it's exhausting."
Quinn chuckled sadly. "She's used to it. She's been like that since she was old enough to understand how conditional 'love' was in her family. Except Gabriel. Who no one can reach because we don't know anyone with his phone number." Quinn sighed and offered Britt a hand up.
"You ladies alright? Would you like to go in now?"
"Oh my God! Yes!" Brittany took Quinn's hand and bounced up.
Pamela held in a chuckle at the blonde bouncing back so quickly. "This is Brittany Pierce and Quinn Fabray," she told the two security guards. "Ladies, this Daniel and Robert. You'll be introduced to new guards as they come on duty until you all get acquainted with each other."
"Ladies, I'm Daniel," the dark haired security guard stuck his hand out and Quinn and Brittany identified themselves to him.
"Robert," the lighter-haired guard shook their hands as well.
Pamela opened the door and led the girls into the room.
Brittany went right to Santana's bedside, taking in the ventilator and monitors all hooked up to her beautiful girl. She leaned in and placed a soft kiss to the Latina's temple and whispered, "I'm here now, baby. I've got you. Come back to me."