Is It a Crime?
Epilogue: Is It a Crime?
She didn't know what she needed. Clothes were scattered about the room. Her hair was a mess. She couldn't find anything important. All her passports, IDs, documentation, and even her license was gone. Everything she could have possibly needed to skip town had vanished. Santana felt her throat closing up. This was the work of Puckerman. It was the only explanation. He wasn't going to let her go.
Her chest was seizing.
Santana felt more trapped than ever before.
"Fuck. Fuck. Fuck." The hinges of the dresser drawer snapped as she yanked it out. "Fuck!"
It didn't matter. She was leaving with or without an ID, her money, or a passport.
Her dark eyes flickered to the brown box. Two words stood out from the address on the sealed lid: Officer Pierce.
"Santana…What. Are. You. Doing?" Mercedes annunciated every single word from the doorway of her flatmate's room.
"Fuck!" Santana jumped three feet in the air, caught completely by surprise. "Mercedes! Jesus! You scared me!"
"Oh I scared you?" Mercedes looked around the mess of Santana's room. "You're scaring me. What the hell is all of this?"
"I-um-" Santana's eyes were nervously glancing around the room. Mercedes had never seen Santana frightened, not like this before. Of course, Mercedes had also been watching her best friend give that performance for Puckerman only a few hours ago at the Ark. Dark eyes kept touching the box on the bed even as Santana searched for an explanation to her behavior. "-you shouldn't be here, Mercedes. Not now. I don't want to get you in trouble too."
"In trouble?" Mercedes shook her head. "What did you do – besides the hot blonde?"
Santana couldn't spare her friend the smile that would have come with Mercedes' quip. "Seriously. You should go back to the Ark so it all falls on my head and you're not involved."
"What are you going to do, Tana?"
"Something stupid."
"Oh yeah?"
"Yes." Santana lifted the box from her bed and turned it over a few times in her hands. "I lifted Puckerman's gun from his office when I had my meeting with him."
"So that's what's in the box…" Mercedes glanced to the object in Santana's hands. It was very dangerous to even think about what Santana was going to do with the incriminating weapon.
"I should just sneak it back into his office and pretend I never took it. Shit. This is so dangerous, Mercedes! I don't know what I was thinking! I could get you killed and he'll definitely kill me!" Santana groaned and threw the box back on the bed.
"Well…if my safety wasn't a concern, where would you send it?"
Santana said very quietly. "To her."
"If that's the case, what are you waiting for?"
"Cedes! Haven't you been listening? It's dangerous and it could get you killed!"
"But do you want to do it?"
"Yes."
"Then it's settled." Mercedes nodded her head. "Get in the car, bring your box, I'm driving you to the station cause I don't think you can put that in regular postage."
"Mercedes!"
"Santana!" Her best friend mocked her tone of voice. "Don't worry bout it, girl. I've got your back. Trust me. I can handle whatever Puckerman throws at me."
"But he's dangerous, Cedes."
"I know. Don't worry about it. I've been talking to Berry." Santana's eyes snapped up in confusion, but Mercedes ignored her. "We've got a plan."
"A plan?" A moment ago, she thought her best friend would have dumped her on her ass and now Mercedes was talking about a plan, specifically- "A plan with Berry?"
"Yes, with Berry. What's wrong with that?"
"But…Berry?"
Mercedes' smirk only grew wider as she ushered her friend and the box out of their apartment. "Trust us. By the way, what were you looking for?"
"My passports and my IDs."
"Oh, I gave them to Rachel."
"What? Why would you give them to Berry?"
"It's all part of the plan." Mercedes was cackling with laughter at the bewildered look on Santana's face.
One year later…
"You don't have to help me. Really I can handle it. It's your big night; you should be out there already drinking and celebrating." Emma was scrubbing at the same spot on the counter that had eluded her cleaning skills for the past six months. Her hand stilled on the wood and her bright, wide eyes looked up in panic. "Oh my God! You didn't want a drink did you?" She started to spin around behind the bar. Her hands were grabbing at glasses and looking for bottles of liquor. "Silly me! Here I am prattling on and on and you probably just wanted a drink and didn't say anything and now everyone's going to know that I messed up already tonight and it's only like seven o'clock."
"No-um-oh-" Brittany was trying to stop the woman from running around, but it was like trying to stop a train. There was no stopping Emma once she got an idea in her head. She was pouring Brittany a third drink now which looked to be straight shots of liquor into a glass of ice. Brittany's eyes were growing wider as Emma threw in splashes of Seagram's, Skyy, Grey Goose, Jose Cuervo, Wild Turkey, Frangelico, and then a dash of Bailey's with a satisfied nod of her head, as if the Bailey's would make everything taste just right.
Brittany reinforced a mental note she had been constantly checking the past twelve months: only order water from Emma. Alcoholic drinks equal death.
Emma looked back up at Brittany with clenched teeth, smiling and searching for approval.
The officer took the first of the drinks on the counter, which looked clear. She prayed it was only water and ice and not some vodka monstrosity. Brittany breathed a sigh of relief into the glass as her prayers were answered and she drank down the water.
She placed the cool glass back on the counter right as Emma finished replacing the three old napkins with three new ones neatly stacked. "Thanks, Emma. I really needed that."
"Oh good. I'm so happy I could help! I love helping especially on your big night."
"Well, it's not really my big night…" Brittany stressed. She finally sat down on the bar stool and glanced back to the main dance floor of the Ark. Sure there were quite a few people dressed for the club, but the blue uniforms of the many police officers made the Ark looked like a sea of blue. "It's the lieutenant's big night."
"The lieutenant…" Emma mouthed. Both women's eyes crossed the dance floor to the brillo-headed man talking to Mike Chang. "…he's so dreamy…"
Brittany was grateful to be facing away from Emma so she couldn't see her reaction to calling Will "dreamy". Despite Emma's poor choice in men, Britt enjoyed her friendship and didn't want it to end because of her inability to have a straight poker face. "Yeah…he's…something…" She winced even as the words came out and shoved the glass of water back into her face to mask her embarrassment.
"Anyway, Brittany, I heard that you also got a promotion. You're going to be a detective?"
Pink tinted the officer's face and she shook her head. "No, I'm just moving up in rank to first patrolman."
"Oh sounds even better!" Emma encouraged.
"Well. It's like-" Emma's head was bobbing vigorously with excitement. So much excitement, that Britt thought it would be better to just let the bartender have her ideas about ranking. "-yeah it's pretty awesome. A big step up!"
"Oh! Fantastic!" Emma clapped her yellow gloved hands together. Brittany didn't even remember her putting them on. "I knew you would get a promotion soon! I mean, I did write that letter of recommendation and sent it to your superior! I'm sure that helped!"
Brittany shoved the glass of water to her face again and nodded. Quite the opposite had happened when the captain received the letter. Captain Sylvester threw one of her infamous rants. She couldn't believe a common citizen had the nerve, no, the audacity, Brittany distinctly remembered that word because the captain had bellowed it right into the traffic cop's ears, to tell her, the Great Captain Sue Sylvester, how to promote and demote her officers.
Luckily, at the time, Emma still only knew Brittany as Anita, so when she addressed the letter of recommendation, Sue had been on the prowl for an Officer Anita. She wanted to give the officer a "special promotion" of her own. Two different Anitas in different precincts went mysteriously missing and the Anita who worked in the cafeteria for fifteen years conveniently took a leave of absence during the captain's "Anita Witch Hunt" as the officers started to call it. Everyone was very careful to never mention the name around the captain, but when she wasn't around, it did spark a bit of a joke amongst the officers. Any time someone would piss the captain off, they would get called an Anita. It was a pretty funny joke, but when the captain was around, no one even had even heard of the name Anita.
Britt smiled into her water thinking about how ridiculous the whole situation was in the station over Emma's genuine letter and the name she had to give to Santana.
And like always, it somehow led to Santana.
For the past year, Brittany had been thinking about her, day dreaming, and wondering "what if". What if she had gotten to the Ark earlier or maybe she had seen Santana one last time before she took off on the tour that would spark millions of fans and start a new dynasty of pop music dominance. They were billed as a duo similar to Amy Winehouse, Beyoncé and Adele all rolled into one. It was incredible what Two-Toned Trouble accomplished. Brittany often wondered what if she had left Santana a message that day before their plane took off.
Brittany knew that they would probably never see each other again and she was okay with that. At least, that's what she told herself.
She also started coming to the Ark on a regular basis and she hadn't gone on a date since then, but Brittany was over the singer.
Or so she kept telling herself.
"How is my very favorite police officer today?" A very familiar voice approached her from behind the bar. It wasn't Emma, but Britt definitely knew who the voice belonged to.
"Hi, Rach!" Britt smiled as the short brunette approached.
"Have I told you how wonderful it is to have a cop in my metaphorical back pocket? Not that I want to be presumptuous and call you my cop because I think that would be a serious breach of decorum in the world of ethics and laws, but still…" Rachel was beaming. "I've made a side business on all the cars you ticket and I tow away on the street around the Ark. It's becoming quite a profit center and all because you hang out here more than I do!"
Rachel went from thanking Brittany to starkly reminding the officer of how pathetic her social life had become in a matter of a few sentences. Brittany wasn't sure, but she had feeling that Santana wouldn't have been able to stand Berry for more than a few minutes at a time.
But she didn't know…not for sure…because Brittany had never seen the two of them interact.
"It's just so grating to see such blatant disrespect for the law, but I'm sure you've seen plenty of that in your time spent as a traffic cop. Like flagrant attacks to the elderly crossing the street or disregard for carefully placed signs to direct traffic. It's really just mind-boggling how some people…"
Rachel was still talking and Brittany was now positive, without a doubt, that Santana wouldn't have been able to stand Rachel Berry's never ceasing mouth and opinions.
To stop Rachel from talking about her opinions of traffic laws, Brittany decided to ask her about the only thing Brittany was ever interested in asking her about. "How's the label going?"
Berry Labels had been created the day Puckerman's empire crumbled. Since it was Noah's only real legitimate business front, it had been open to public shares. When news of Puckerman's arrest shook the entire board's faith in the company and his name, it was like a fire sale. Shares were sold at an alarming rate. Berry Labels bought almost all of them. The takeover was complete before Puckerman had even been processed into holding.
"Oh it's so good, Officer Pierce, you should hear some of the names we've brought in to do back up for a new project."
Brittany wasn't sure when Rachel had taken an interest in her. One day, Rachel waltzed right over to Brittany's favorite spot at Emma's bar shook her hand and introduced herself as owner of the Ark and Berry Labels.
"And then of course there are my two favorite ladies." Brittany's ear perked. She tried not to look interested, but this is what she had been waiting for. This was the reason she tolerated Rachel's unexpected and invasive friendship. "Two-Toned Trouble-" She paused and glanced at Brittany. "-You do know who they are, right? Mercedes? Santana? The greatest duo since Simon & Garfunkel, Tegan & Sara, Peanut Butter & Jelly?"
"I think I've heard of them…" Brittany responded with measured patience. It seemed like Rachel asked this question every time she brought them up.
"Well they are finally coming back to the States in about three weeks. I've already got studio space ready to go and a few places are begging for them to do some of their hits!"
"They're going to be recording again?"
"Of course they are! Do you think they could continue with the poor catalog of music they've been using the past year forever? Oh, my dear blonde traffic officer…" Rachel cooed and Brittany tried to hide her face behind the water glass. "…I forget that by protecting us citizens from the dangers of illegal parking, that you give up a sense of pop culture and common sense. You see, when Berry Label put together Two-Toned Trouble, it was done so fast with music already recorded by Santana and Mercedes separately in the studio. They were mixed and sliced together and of course there are the solo tracks that they recorded. I can't wait to have them back in the studio with my special care and ear for these kinds of things. We're going to make gold."
Britt wasn't really listening to the logistics about song making and all that other nonsense. The only part she cared for was the part about Santana being back in the States. Her heart had skipped a beat at the thought of Santana recording right here in the Ark. Sometimes Brittany couldn't believe that she had lived here this whole time and never heard Santana sing until that fateful night. Now, all she did was linger in the Ark hoping that Santana would come out and do a song, any song. But instead, the house DJ would throw on a Two-Toned Trouble track, the place would go crazy, and Brittany would have another sip of water and offer to help Emma with some of the cleaning.
"If only I could really push Santana into realizing her true vocal potential then I could mold her into the type of singer I really think she could be. I even dabbled in a bit of songwriting myself." Rachel was going on. Brittany just kept nodding.
The dance floor was clearing of regular people as more and more officers were getting drinks and taking over the Ark. The police hadn't officially rented out the Ark for the night, but their presence and the whispered rumors that the Great Captain Sue Sylvester would be making an appearance made anyone with half a sense clear out of the club. No one was dumb enough to be caught around the captain for any reason. By the time Brittany finished her glass of water, there were only a few people left on the dance floor who weren't in uniform and Britt guessed they would be cleared out eventually by some aggressive officer. This was a night to celebrate the force and one man.
"How'd you get the party to be at the Ark?" Britt cut into Rachel's rambling.
"Me?" Red tinted Rachel's cheeks. "I tried talking to the captain about the party and she threatened to have me arrested for harassment and attempted assault with a deadly weapon…"
"What? You tried attacking the captain?"
"She said my voice was dangerous and a threat to society, but apparently Quinn, my lawyer, knows her from things and she convinced the captain to host the party here. So it all worked out and I'm not going to jail."
"That's good!" Brittany encouraged, but she secretly wondered if there was a way she could get Rachel to inspire the captain's rage once again.
"Is this thing on?" A voice ripped through the music playing in the background. Both women flinched and turned. Sue Sylvester was standing at the DJ booth with the microphone in hand. The DJ was face down on the floor outside of the booth. His hands were over his head and he looked like he was cowering. "Good. Now let's all assemble so we can get this sham of a ceremony over as soon as possible. I've got better things to do than to congratulate a pencil pusher with eraser shavings for hair."
"Thank you, Captain Sue." Another voice came from the stage area. It annunciated every word and drew them out very slowly. "I can handle it from here."
Sue shot him a glare, but held out her microphone. It hovered in the air for a moment before she unceremoniously dropped it onto the quivering DJ's head. It landed with a thud. Both Brittany and Rachel cringed.
"Does she ever calm down?" Rachel's eyes were wide with terror.
"That is her calm." Britt answered. She really wanted to know more about Santana. She wanted to ask Rachel if Santana was happy. If she was loving her new life as a mega star on the road. She wanted Rachel to tell her everything, but…she couldn't…Rachel didn't even know about them and if she did know, she would probably think it was really creepy that Brittany hung around the Ark like she did.
She noticed Sam was weaving in and out of other officers and on his way to her favorite bar.
"William, please come to the stage." Chief Figgins was ushering the lieutenant to come up and join him. Sue was already there and glaring at him.
"Britt! Hey!" Sam barreled over with that goofy grin on his face. "Hi! I think it's starting and Detective Chang said if he couldn't see our faces smiling for the lieutenant that you'd get demoted and that I would stay in traffic forever."
Brittany hesitated and looked back at Rachel. She wanted to ask all those questions, but…
"So maybe we can catch up later and we can talk about that recording stuff for Two-Toned Trouble. I've always been interested in that stuff."
"Come on, Britt. Demotion…come on!" Sam grabbed her hand and pulled her through the crowd.
Rachel turned around in her stool and smiled to Emma. "Oh I'm sure it's the recording room that she's interested in." She had been the one watching Santana and the officer get it on through the security monitors over a year ago. So when the sad officer walked through the doors of the Ark, Rachel had been unable to stop herself from leaving the security booth to introduce herself to the officer that started the whole thing. In a roundabout way, Brittany was the reason she now owned the Ark and had Berry Labels. Whatever the officer did to Santana had to have been amazing because Rachel was still reaping the benefits of Santana's good deed.
Thus why the new owner of the Ark felt compelled to offer her friendship to the blonde officer as a form of repayment -
- that and what she planned for tonight.
"And it is with great pleasure we wish Lieutenant Schuster the best of health and love on his retirement." Chief Figgins was saying to the assembly. "You have served us well, William, and now it is time for you to go to that sweet peace."
"What?" Will was bewilderedly looking from Sue to Figgins. "This was supposed to be a promotion not a retirement!"
"William, hush now. The captain convinced me that you needed to take this time for yourself. Get a wife. Get a life. Relax. You're living the dream."
"Get a haircut." Sue muttered.
"But, sir! She tricked you into this somehow! I don't want to retire!"
Figgins clasped onto Will's hand hard and pulled him in close. He whispered. "Take it like a man, William. It will go better that way."
Schuster pulled back and Figgins kept shaking his hand. All the officers were looking at each other confused. Figgins took the mic back and smiled. "Let us give a hand to William for his years of service! Achievement!"
Everyone started to cheer and clap.
Brittany and Sam were clapping and whopping louder than anyone else in the crowd. They were all here out of fear. Sue made sure that everyone came to witness the event. Apparently, she had just wanted everyone to watch the way she maneuvered Will out of his job. Knowing the system and how the chief operated, Brittany doubted the retirement would be permanent, but at the moment it looked like the captain had won this round.
"Let's celebrate!" Figgins waved his two fists in the air. The house DJ was back in his booth. He looked expectantly over at Sue. The captain dismissively waved her fingers in the air. The music started up and the officers, personnel, and others who were invited to attend, started to disperse. Will stood on the stage with his mouth agape. He didn't understand what just happened.
"I almost feel bad for him." Sam remarked.
"Eh. He'll be fine. It's probably for the best. I'm pretty sure the captain was going to have him taken care of some other way if this didn't work. It's definitely for the best."
"You're probably right. And this does fit my theory on how the captain still has her job. And why Figgins meets with her every Thursday at the bagel shop on 11th street."
"Sam! I told you to stop following the captain!" Britt hissed. "She's going to find out one day and she'll kill you!"
They were moving through the dancing officers and around those who were just chatting and casually drinking. The lights were dimming and the music was getting better.
"I didn't get to say congrats yet, Britt, but I'm so proud you moved up." Sam said as they made their way to the bar. "It sucks that it's only out of traffic because I thought for sure you'd be filling in the lieutenant's spot by now."
"I think Chang's got that locked up tight. He's been working on that spot for the past two years. I wouldn't be surprised if he buddied up with the captain to carry out her plan to get the lieutenant retired."
The lights were dimming even lower. Brittany didn't really notice.
"So Pierce…wanna dance or something?" Sam asked rather awkwardly of his partner.
"Or something?" Britt repeated. "Does that line usually work on the ladies?"
"Aww, come on, Britt, just dance a little with me. It'll be fun. I promise!" Sam said and started to move his arms back and forth in the most ridiculous manner.
"I think I'm going to get another drink."
"You mean more water." Sam sighed with defeat. "You know…you're going to have to get over her eventually."
"I will – I mean, I am. I just don't feel like dancing right now."
"Okay, Britt, suit yourself. I'm going to tear it up."
"Go get'em." Britt smirked as her partner wove his way through officers to the dance floor. She still couldn't believe the police department had decided to throw a party at the Ark. But it had a sort of poetic justice to it.
She stepped off the dance floor right as the hues in the club started to subtly change.
Purple.
She looked down at the floor then at her hands to see they were tinted in purple. The rest of the officers and those around her didn't notice. But Brittany did. She whipped her head up to the ceiling to watch as the various spot lights turned shades of purple and swiveled over the Ark. A tremor of anticipation ran down her spine, but she refused to turn around. She refused to give herself hope that something was about to happen even if it felt like the world was holding its breath in anticipation.
People were now moving in the direction of the stage. The DJ had taken his mic up again.
"Ladies and Gentleman! Officers! For your pleasure alone, the dynamic duo of Santana Lopez and Mercedes Jones,Two-Toned Trouble, have returned from their world tour early just for this party."
A band had already taken to the stage. Two microphones were waiting expectantly. But Brittany had yet to turn around. It felt like a dream. This was what she had fantasized about for the past twelve months. Yet her usual confidence was fading in the moment. Santana wouldn't remember her or at the very least would have definitely moved on.
"I'd like to dedicate this song to a very special person in the audience." Brittany's body was trembling. The hairs on her back of her neck were standing straight up and she didn't know if she had the will power to turn around. She would know that voice anywhere. It didn't matter that she hadn't seen Santana in over a year. It felt like just yesterday that the singer had dedicated Dirty Laundry to her. "This goes out to my Anita."
The crowd was yelling and calling. Even if they were cops and officers of the law, they didn't live under rocks. Everyone, their grandmothers, and their children knew Two-Toned Trouble and they were from this city. It was so exciting!
Everyone rushed forward, but Brittany couldn't move a muscle. Santana always seemed to have a way of capturing her in the most exquisitely torturous ways.
"Anita!" The captain's voice could be heard screeching and searching for the source of the infamous Anita. "Where is she!?"
But Brittany could barely hear the commotion the captain was causing.
The saxophone came in hard and heavy. The entire place's attention was now on the stage. A terribly exciting energy flowed from body to body as the drums and cymbals joined the fray.
This may come
This may come as some surprise
But I miss you
She could feel it. She could feel it in every word. She could feel it in the deep bass. Santana was calling her. The officer turned around.
Dark eyes had been waiting. Under the light, Santana had been staring right at her.
You could see through all of my lies
And still I miss you
The spotlight swung to Mercedes as the second half of Two-Toned Trouble added her vocals to the song.
He takes her love
But it doesn't feel like mine
He tastes her kiss
Her kisses are not wine
They're not mine
It didn't matter that the lights were now on Mercedes or that she was belting out Sade. The club's entire attention was on her.
But Brittany…
Brittany couldn't take her eyes away from Santana in the shadows of the stage. She was wearing one of her sinfully short dresses and heels that should be illegal. And all Brittany could remember was the way they had wrapped around her body that night. It had been a whole year ago, but as Brittany's eyes travelled up Santana's body, slowly, admiring every curve and dip, it felt like they had fallen into bed only last night.
Mercedes kept singing.
He takes, but surely
She can't give what I'm feeling now
She takes, but surely
She doesn't know how
Brittany once again found Santana's eyes. They had yet to leave the blonde officer. The lights once again swung in Santana's direction, but even with the purple light bathing her in a neon glow, Santana's eyes only seemed to darken.
Her lips pressed against the mesh surface of the Ark microphone.
Is it a crime?
Is it a crime?
That I still want you?
Her voice was intoxicating. Every word wrapped from the mic down the wire as it circled the microphone stand. Her words twisted through the crowd and weaved through bodies in sensual rises and falls until they found Brittany, vulnerable, and needy. They found her from her toes and climbed through her legs. They squeezed her thighs and urged her to step closer.
And I want you to want me too.
God. She could feel Santana's words echoing and beckoning the officer forward. Her body moved.
Those lips pressed hard into the mic. The crowd surged forward and it looked like Santana would throw her body into the hands raised to the stage.
My love is wider
Wider than Victoria Lake
My love is taller
Taller than the Empire State
The saxophone came back.
It dive and it jumps and it ripples like the deepest ocean
The whole band was rocking and Santana's voice was reaching a crescendo in power and tempo. Brittany couldn't control the way her body was thrumming.
I can't give you more than that
And surely you want me back!
Her voice was softer now, almost like she forgot to sing. Her dark eyes were focused solely on Brittany. The officer's heart was beating so hard it felt like it would go through her chest.
Is it a crime?
Is it a crime?
That I still want you?
And I want you to want me too.
Mercedes came back into the song, but Brittany didn't hear a word she was singing. Santana was moving down the stage. Her heels were clicking on the steps to the side. The light went dim around her, but Santana had yet to move her eyes from the officer. Mercedes was glancing over giving her partner the side-eye, but Santana didn't care. When Mercedes realized this would be one of those moments Santana abandoned her in the middle of a song, she rolled her eyes. Luckily, it only happened when fake-cop, who suspiciously looked like a real cop tonight, was around.
My love is wider than Victoria Lake
Taller than the Empire State
It dives and it jumps
The song was building. Santana was drawing closer, parting the crowd. Her eyes were hooded under her long lashes. Her mouth opened as she complemented Mercedes' voice.
I can't give you more than that
Surely you want me back
Is it a crime?
Is it a crime?
That I still want you?
Santana was closing the distance between them. Perhaps it was the way her eyes were smoldering for Brittany alone, no one stood in her way. The officers moved aside to let Santana through. Brittany thought her heart would beat out of her chest. Every fantasy she had of one day running into Santana at the Ark ten years from now were nothing compared to what was happening. She was only a few feet away.
Santana. Brittany thought she might have whispered aloud, but she wasn't quite sure. She took another step, but paused. Her feet stilled. She was waiting. Softly, with trepidation and fear that she could be rejected, Santana whispered into the microphone attached to her head. And I want you to want me too. All those youtube videos Brittany had watched of live performances and police database pictures she had scrolled through a thousand times were nothing like this. Santana pulled the mic away from her lips. She mouthed the words again. "I want you to want me too."
Mercedes was belting out the final refrain, but Santana was no longer singing.
It dives
It jumps and it ripples like the deepest ocean
I can't give you more than that
Surely you want it back
"Surely you want it back?" Santana's voice was much softer. The mic didn't pick it up; only Brittany could hear her question.
Tell me
Is it a…
Crime?
The lights faded and then lit up the stage where Mercedes was blowing kisses through the air to their audience and thanking them all for the wonderful service they do for the community. Her eyes glanced over once to her friend, but just flashed the blonde officer a smile before she went back to appeasing the crowd. The band was already starting up another number, but Santana didn't even have her microphone turned on anymore.
"I missed you…" Santana whispered with even less confidence than before. She remembered how harshly she had rejected the officer's offer to help her. "I'm sorry I didn't call or anything. I didn't know if you'd even want to talk to me and then Rachel and Holly told me I had to be on a plane and I didn't have time to even pack properly. I-um-I missed you and I'm sorry for all those terrible things I said."
Brittany said nothing. She still wasn't quite sure if this was real. A smile was twisting her lips and her fingers were tingling. Santana was only a few feet away.
"I-um-shit." Santana sighed and dropped her eyes to the floor. She was fidgeting with the material of her dress and Brittany thought she had never seen anyone as cute or as hot as Santana or as completely vulnerable like she was in this moment. Except that one time in the limo when their eyes had been open and there had been no music, no alcohol, and no Ark, Santana always hid this side of herself. "Fuck. I've never been rejected before and in my mind this went a lot differently. Whatever. I get it. I-um-I've got a set to finish. Bye."
Bye? The word echoed between them and Brittany's body reacted before her mouth ever opened. She reached out and took Santana by the wrist to prevent her retreat. The smaller brunette halted. Their bodies moved closer – much closer.
Without waiting for permission, Brittany's other hand wrapped tight around the singer's waist and pulled her forward. Santana's body compiled. Her mouth parted in surprise and pleasure at the officer's forwardness. Brittany's forehead brushed against hers as the blonde leaned into her body. Santana's fingers curled into uniform material. She pulled at Brittany's forearm and her stomach clenched in anticipation. A strong hand lifted her just a little from the floor. Santana forgot all the other excuses and speeches she prepared for Brittany. Her skin was tingling as Britt pushed away strands of her hair.
A year of waiting, a year spent in a limbo of unknowing, was worth it because no one kissed like Brittany. Their mouths connected in the sweetest second of passionate and unspoken nights of pining. A soft moan escaped Santana. She shut her eyes even tighter. But she could feel the smile in on Britt's lips. More importantly, she could feel those fingers sliding down her cheek and cupping her chin.
Cheers and claps sounded around them.
"Get it, Pierce!"
"I didn't know she batted for the other team!"
"This is the best party I've been to since the captain made everyone not wearing their uniform properly make a human pyramid outside in the snow. They had to hold the poise for the entire ceremony."
Santana blushed and pulled back. She had completely forgotten about the entire assembly around them. "Shit." Her entire body was thrumming. Mercedes was rolling her eyes from the stage and trying to gain the attention of the crowd once again as she ripped into her solo single from the album.
"Can we go somewhere else?" Brittany repeated her question from the first time Santana had left the stage to approach her. Her blue eyes were sparkling in the shifting lights of the Ark. Quite a crowd had gathered around them now.
"Definitely." Santana took Brittany hand.
Brittany didn't even bother to contain the smile on her face.
Sam was running up to them. "Britt! Did you see!? It was Santana on the stag-" He realized that Brittany wasn't alone and that Santana wasn't going to stop for a few seconds to chat.
"Out of the way, Trouty." Santana pushed past him.
Brittany was grinning as she waved bye to her best friend.
They hit Emma's counter and Santana threw the doors to the bar open as if she owned the place.
"Oh thank Sue, you two finally found each other!" They could hear Emma saying as Santana's free hand pushed open the doors to the back. Brittany looked back with mild concern. Emma had converted to Sylvesterism as well? That couldn't be good.
Hands.
Hands were pulling at the buttons of her uniform shirt. They ducked between guys stacking crates and people in the kitchen. Santana knew every inch of the Ark and from the way her fingers were fondling and groping at Brittany's buttons, she intended to know every inch of the officer as well.
They hit another set of doors and Brittany was smirking as she remembered every time Santana led through the bowels of the Ark. It seemed like a never ending maze of turns and twists, but Santana always knew where she was going. This time there were no guards or Puckerman's thugs chasing after them, but a few security guys nodded to them as they practically ran by.
Lips.
With little ceremony, Santana lifted Brittany's hand and kissed the back of her palm. They took a left turn. Britt looked up and swore this hallway looked familiar. Then she saw the door with Santana's name on it. Brittany had only been in the room once without Santana and that had been when they had made the arrest on Puckerman. Santana's back connected with the door.
Hips.
Brittany's hips rolled into the singer. They stayed still for a moment. Santana attempted to push back. She could feel the everything. Belt. Holster. Buckles. The cuffs knocked together in a tantalizingly suggestive clink. Santana groaned. She attempted to shift her lower body. She needed friction. But the officer clenched her abdomen and didn't give her room.
Eyes.
Dark eyes opened. She bit her bottom lip and moaned even louder as she realized what Brittany was doing. Santana knew she was pinned. Fuck. She bucked harder now. One of the buttons on the belt pressed against the material of her dress. Santana sucked in. Her ass hit the door again.
Hips.
Brittany rubbed their hips together. The bass from the club and Mercedes' performance penetrated the walls and lower parts of the Ark. It vibrated down through the cinderblock and wood. The beat was hot and heavy. And if Santana wouldn't have been so distracted, she probably would have known what song Mercedes was performing. But right now…she didn't know; she didn't care. Britt must have felt the bass too because her hips rolled in slow and hard. Santana gripped onto the officer's forearm to steady herself. Her other hand slipped around Brittany's waist teasing the belt loops as her fingers accidently slid in and out of each loop.
Ass.
She lingered on the officer's hip and held on as Brittany pushed her ass harder into the door. Fuck. Santana groaned and sought better leverage. She opened her hand and palmed the officer's ass through those incredibly sexy uniform pants. At the thought of taking them off, Santana stomach clenched. Brittany wasn't done. The bass was harder and she was moving their bodies together. Santana spread her legs wider. The dress lifted. Harder. Brittany was going to ride her through the door without ever turning the knob. They moved to the music.
Santana couldn't help herself. "I've been waiting forever to dance with you again."
"Yeah?" Brittany smirked and rode their bodies even slower into the door. She pressed her lips right against Santana's exposed neck. Her kisses were mobile and rapidly ascending. They caressed her neck and played right between her jawline. They found space beneath her thick dark hair.
Teeth.
Brittany nipped at Santana's earlobe. She could feel the blonde smiling against her soft tissue. Her body was tingling and heated. She could smell her. It was intoxicating.
"I've been dancing with you for a whole year." Brittany hoarsely whispered into the singer's ear. Playfully. "You couldn't feel me?"
Santana's body was shaking. Her nails were raking up and down Brittany's forearm. Every time they rocked together, she was desperate for more. She lifted her left leg from the floor and wrapped it around the officer's waist.
"How?"
A kiss. "I bought your cd." Tongue. "Every night when I'd come home from a long day at work." Another kiss right behind her ear. Santana's knees were buckling at the intimacy. "I'd close my eyes and pretend it was you singing to me."
A soft gasp escaped from her lips. Santana's back arched and she moaned. She remembered the Cage and how sexy Brittany had been on the dance floor. "Did you touch yourself?"
Brittany's teeth sank into Santana's ear. Her response was more hot breath than words. "What do you think?"
"Fuck." Santana dug into Brittany's arm harder and pulled the blonde down so she could be the one whispering into ears. "If you don't open this door and fuck me against it right now, I'm never going to sing again."
"You wouldn't." Brittany was smirking. The hand she had underneath Santana's dress squeezed her thigh. She hiked the shorter woman up her waist and wrapped both of her legs around her body.
Santana's dark eyes were blazing. Britt felt a shiver go through her whole body. She had never met a woman like Santana before. "Don't push me. You have no idea what I'm capable of."
"Here, I thought you wanted me to push you." She rolled their hips again. Santana's eyes closed for a sweet moment to savor the sensation. Her other hand found the door knob. "You're going to be singing my name by the end of the night."
Santana squeezed her eyes shut and knew no truer words had ever been spoken. The door finally creaked open and they went tumbling back into the dressing room together.
Thanks everyone for reading and for the reviews! They were always entertaining! This started as a one-shot and grew into a world I would love to play in more. So I'm definitely thinking about maybe doing another shorty with the Ark, Santana, Officer Britt, Berry Labels, Mercedes, and Captain Sylvester. Maybe if you guys are interested in seeing more, mention it so I'd know.
I just need to finish Sirens first. So if you are looking for more Brittana goodness and you don't read Sirens, I am working on chapter 29 at the moment.
Once again thank you! Honestly, it would have stayed a much shorter story without all the positive and encouraging feedback you guys gave me and I'm very appreciative. :D
Song:
Is It A Crime? –Sade
Full Song List for Is It a Crime?:
Dirty Laundry – Bitter:Sweet
Oops – Tweet
Criminal – Fiona Apple
Is It A Crime? - Sade