Chapter 11

Santana POV

It had been a three days since she'd woken up and she'd convinced Brittany to go back to school yesterday. Brittany came back right after school and refused to go home at night but at least she was getting out of the hospital. She had brought Santana a lot of missed work but it seemed like the teachers just sent the 'important' work for her to catch up on instead of six weeks' worth so Santana would be able to graduate on time.

Pam had an extra table brought in for Santana to stack her backlog of work on. She also had an extra desk chair brought in so Santana could sit with Brittany, Mercedes, and Quinn while they did homework.

Santana was currently sitting there alone working through the pile of assignments. She couldn't sit for very long and her head ached if she read for too long but she really wanted to get this done.

"Take a break, sis," Gabe said. He was sitting in one of the comfortable visitor chairs working on something on his laptop. "You're going to be too tired for PT this afternoon."

Santana nodded and moved to the other comfortable chair, putting her feet up. "Gabe?"

"Yeah?"

"What happened when you went to see Mami and Papi?" her voice was quiet, almost timid. She hated that she felt that way. She wanted to know but, at the same time, she didn't want to know that her parents still rejected her.

Gabe sighed and set his laptop aside.

"Jorge had been lying to Mami." He shook his head. "He never told her you were in the hospital. Told her he slipped on some ice and that's how he broke his nose. They told Constance you ran away. I told Mami everything. Jorge was as cold and stern and unfeeling as ever. Mami broke down and wanted to be brought here but I told her she wasn't allowed to see you." He looked at Santana with concern. "I told her my father was dead to me and my mother was on life support. I said I didn't know if she loved him or if she was afraid but as long as she was with him, she had no children.

"I'm sorry, I probably shouldn't have spoken for you …"

"No," Santana interrupted him, "it's okay. She hasn't reached out at all since he threw me out so, I'm okay with that. Maybe if she ever grows a set …" she shrugged.

"Yeah." Gabe smiled sadly at his sister.

"Ugh. Happier topic. You and Quinn? Do I sense romance?" Santana giggled as she teased him.

"Oh … uh … no. I mean, she's smart and she's beautiful, don't get me wrong but she's only seventeen and still in high school. I'm twenty-one … little bit of an ick factor there." He shrugged. "Maybe in a couple of years … I don't want to be 'that guy', you know? The guy who grooms high school girls. I like Quinn. I do. And, I guess, if it's meant to be, we'll find each other when the timing is better."

"You know she likes you, right? You can't have missed the smiles and looks she's been sending your way."

"Yeah, I'm getting the signals," he said, "and, like I said, in a couple of years, the age difference won't be a factor. Right now, though, she's in high school and she told me she's applied to Yale. Even if I weren't leery of the age difference, I live in California and she'll be in Connecticut." He shrugged.

Santana nodded. She understood but hoped Quinn wouldn't end up getting hurt.

Xoxoxoxoxo

When Brittany came bouncing in, Santana was sitting at the table working on some of the homework. She'd taken a nap earlier so she'd be ready for PT. Her PT sessions were later in the day because Brittany wanted to be available for them.

"Hi!" Brittany bounded over to her and kisses her sweetly on the cheek. "How was your day? Did you get some rest? How are you feeling?" She rapid fired the questions as she slipped into the chair next to Santana.

"Hi, day was fine. I did some homework, took a nap, did some more homework, and now you're here." Santana smiled. "And I'm feeling okay. Sore … kinda achey, like, because I haven't moved around in so long? But mostly okay."

"Good. PT will help with that."

Right on cue, a nurse came in with a wheelchair to wheel Santana down to the Physical Therapy room. The Physical Therapist helped get Santana situated and showed Brittany how she could best help as Santana did her exercises. Mostly, Brittany was just there to spot Santana; Santana had to do the work in order to rebuild her strength and stamina. And her abs. Brittany had laughed when Santana had whined about her abs being soft and squishy.

Santana was walking between the parallel bars when a voice sent a shiver down Brittany's spine and she instinctively stepped in between Santana and that voice.

"Santana. I am your father and this nonsense is going to stop. You will send this tortillera estupida and the rest of those people away and you will allow your mother and I to care for you." Dr. Lopez' voice was stern and Brittany could feel Santana's fear.

"Don't call her that," there was a slight tremor but Santana's voice was strong. "She's my girlfriend. The love of my life and I will not send any of my friends away. They were there when you threw me out like yesterday's garbage. They've been taking care of me while you lied to Mami and Gabe and everyone else. So, No, Dr. Lopez, I will NOT allow you to do anything for or to me."

"Enough. You have defied me for the last time." He motioned to the two burly men at his side. "If you will not listen and obey voluntarily, then I will make you listen and obey."

Brittany watched as the two men approached her and Santana.

"Mayday," she said lowly as she prepared to fight.

"Britt! No! Don't hurt her!" Santana sounded frightened.

Brittany didn't listen, she dropped down ans swept the leg of the man nearest here, taking him to the floor before bouncing up and turning to the other one. He was approaching more cautiously, eyeing Brittany up and down. The Physical Therapist got Santana into the wheelchair and moved her away from the men and Dr. Lopez with Brittany continuing to move, keeping herself between Santana and the men.

"Take her! Damn you! I paid you well for this!"

The door to the physical therapy room burst open and two of the Ace23 guys walked in and made quick work of the two goons Dr. Lopez had hired. Gabriel walked in behind them and seized his father by the arm.

"What part of stay away from Santana and Brittany was unclear?" Gabe looked murderous. He had Dr. Lopez' arm in a tight grip. "I told you that you would no longer be dealing with young girls but with me. You obviously doubted me."

"Unhand me. I have every right to help my daughter get away from this maldita tortillera estupida!"

With that, Gabe shoved his father against the wall and held him by the throat. "I warned you to stop calling her that and to stay the fuck away from the two of them. Simple instructions yet the great Dr. Jorge Lopez fails to understand them."

Jorge struggled against Gabe's grip; his face was beginning to turn purple and he was gasping. Gabe let up enough to allow his father to breathe.

Two police officers walked in just then. "We got a call about a possible attempted kidnapping?"

"Yes. These people have tried to kidnap my daughter and keep her from me! Then they assaulted me! I want them arrested!" Jorge's eyes gleamed maliciously.

"NO!" Santana shot out of the chair and stumbled, Brittany caught her and steadied her. "You fucking LIAR! He is NOT my father anymore. My guardian is Whitney Pierce and that hijo de puta just tried to have those two assholes grab me without my consent."

"SANTANA!" Jorge roared.

"No. No more. You're dead to me. I don't know you and I don't want to know you. Leave. Me. Alone." Brittany felt Santana's legs starting to give out and guided her back to the wheelchair.

"Come on, let's get you back to your room. Leave him and his goons to the police." Brittany had no faith in the police after what happened the night of Santana's attack but she'd rather let them sort it all out than leave Santana in the same room with her father for another moment.

"Santana! I am your father! You will not do this! You will do as you are told! Do you know who I am? I am Dr. Jorge Lopez! I am a top surgeon at this hospital! You will release me, immediately! " Jorge continued ranting even as the police were putting him in handcuffs and calling for back-up.

Santana shook her head. "You stopped being my father in November when you told me to leave your house and never return." She turned to look at Brittany. "Can we please go? I'm kinda tired."

"Of course, baby," Brittany smiled softly and pressed a soft kiss to the top of Santana's head, causing a fresh round of Spanish cursing from Jorge.

Santana looked at him and shook her head as they rolled past him. "I feel sorry for you. You have no idea what you had or what you've lost. Honestly? I don't even care anymore. Goodbye, Dr. Lopez." She looked up at Brittany and nodded.

Brittany pushed Santana's wheelchair out of the physical therapy room, leaving a ranting Jorge Lopez far behind.

Xoxoxoxoxo

When they got back to the room, Quinn and Mercedes both looked up.

"What happened? We heard you had to use the alarm code." Quinn looked at Santana and Brittany.

Brittany helped Santana, who was looking completely pale and washed out, into bed before slipping in beside her and holding her close. She felt the silent tears dampening her shirt and tightened her hold on her girl.

She signed and answered Quinn. "Jorge showed up with two goons and they tried to grab Santana. I don't know what their plan was but our plan was better."

They had thought about having the Ace23 guards go down to PT with Santana but that would leave her room unguarded and give Jorge a chance to slip in and cause trouble. The Ace23 contract states that two guards are to be on duty together; no splitting. So they talked to the Physical Therapist and set up a system; if Brittany said 'Mayday', he was to call Santana's room and alert Gabe who would get the Ace23 guys down to PT.

Quinn nodded. "I'm glad you thought about all of that Brittany."

"My girl's a genius, yo," Santana said softly.

Brittany beamed and kissed the top of Santana's head.

"We're okay, though. Shaken up but no damage."

Santana lifted her head. "Britt took one of Jorge's goons down. It was amazing." A slight grin slid across her face. "You are so badass."

"Learned from the best." Brittany grinned and leaned down to give Santana a soft kiss on the lips.

"I'm glad you guys are okay. What's it going to take to get him to back off?" Quinn shook her head.

"I thought Gabe was going to kill him." Brittany said.

"Where is Gabe?" Mercedes asked.

"He stayed down with the Ace23 guys to talk to the police. Hopefully, we won't need them here." Brittany sighed. "Of course, with Jorge in custody the only person we have to worry about is Maribel but she won't know what room Santana is in and the hospital won't release any information about her so we should be okay."

Quinn started packing up her things as did Mercedes. "We're going to leave early tonight; you two look like you could use the rest. Try and get some sleep and we'll see you tomorrow."

Quinn leaned in to Santana and kissed her cheek, then turned and kissed Britt's, and Mercedes gave them both a hug.

"How are you really?" Brittany asked.

"Just … tired. The struggle never seems to end. I just don't get it, Britt. He told me to leave. No contact for months and now he's acting like I ran away or you stole me or something. I mean … what the fuck?"

"I don't know, baby." Brittany softly stroked up and down Santana's arm. She knew it would calm Santana; it always did.

Gabe walked in and smiled at them. "Hey. You guys okay?"

Brittany nodded. "Mostly tired. Especially her." She smiled softly at the Latina's fluttering eyelids.

Gabe nodded. "I'll be back before you leave in the morning. Jorge is on his way to the police station. I'm not sure what will happen but he's definitely gone for the night."

Brittany nodded. "Good because I don't think we could do another three rounds."

Gabe kissed both girls before heading out for the night.

The door had barely closed behind him when both girls were fast asleep.