It was a little bit like world war three, if war involved sequins or hairspray and Santana almost smiled at the idea of Rachel concocting a glitter based flame thrower. Almost. Instead she found herself rolling her eyes for what felt like the millionth time as she watched Mr Schuster and the New Directions squaring off against a confused Miss Corcoran and the newly formed Trouble Tones.

"You can't just come in here and steal our members Shelby!" Mr Schue shouted as he threw his arms up in exasperation.

Shelby raised an eyebrow as she calmly mused, "That is what you invited us here to talk about? And here I was thinking we could discuss an auditorium schedule."

Santana did smile at that, her respect for the woman sky rocketing as she coolly dealt with Mr Schue's outburst. She didn't really know how the situation had kicked off, one minute she had been approaching Miss Corcoran about maybe joining her group and the next minute Tina had arrived saying the Trouble Tones were needed in the choir room. It didn't take a genius to work out why the new group were being summoned and so Santana had tagged along, her suspicions confirmed the minute they entered the room.

"This is not a joke." Will objected, "You-"

"Oh believe me, I know. I take my show choirs very seriously. I have a room full of trophies to prove it." Shelby countered, "And while standing here and childishly bickering with you would also be a great way to prove my professionalism I'm going to stop you right there."

Santana wondered for a second if Mr Schue's eyes were about to fall out of his head and stifling a chuckle she waited for Shelby to continue.

"I am not stealing anyone." The older woman explained, "If Santana choses to join The Trouble Tones that is her choice to make, granted myself and the rest of the girls would be thrilled to have her on board but we did not steal her. She isn't a piece of equipment to be taken she has her own mind and she can make her own decisions."

Will stuttered, "I-I know…"

"Good." Shelby confirmed, "Because it is highly inappropriate that-"

A timid knock on the door barely sounded through the room and it was only the click of heels on the tiled floor that drew everyone's attention and halted Miss Corcoran's displeasure. Miss Pillsbury had never been the most authoritative person but walking into the middle of the warzone with her wide-eyed terrified expression silenced the room. Everyone knew that face only meant one thing; bad news.

"I was wondering…I need to have a word with-" it was as though the room were collectively holding their breath in the millisecond before Miss Pillsbury breathed, "-Santana."

Santana could feel everyone's eyes snap in her direction but the gaze of so many people didn't even register on her radar as she stared anxiously at the guidance counsellor. The last time a teacher had looked at her the way Miss Pillsbury was doing right now was after Yara-

"What happened?"

Miss Pillsbury winced, her hand extended forward she gestured for the young girl to follow her somewhere less public. She wasn't surprised when Santana quickly strode across the room but she didn't expect the cheerleader to stop her at the door.

"Tell me what happened."

Emma paused, her eyes peering back into the choir room she knew the others were eavesdropping but the insistent look on Santana's face told her she wasn't willing to wait to be dragged back to the seclusion of the guidance office, "I received a call from the hospital, it's about your Mom."

Santana blinked, her eyes dropping to the floor she waited for the woman to continue.

"She…they think that she may have taken an overdose. One of your neighbours found her and called an ambulance-"

Santana barely heard the rest of Miss Pillsbury's explanation, her mind was already reeling and the only thing she could think off came out as a panicked whisper, "But she's okay, right? I mean…she failed."

"She's in the hospital." Miss Pillsbury confirmed, "They are taking good care of her and the doctors say that she's recovering well."

"I…I don't…" Santana exhaled, her heart still thumping wildly in her chest as she raked a hair through her hair. She could feel the panic subsiding but after that it was as though her brain had shut down, "I don't know what to do."

"Santana, what's wrong? What's happened?"

The sound of Rachel's voice invading her scattered thoughts was enough to at least temporarily halt her brain from completely shutting down , the feel of the singer's hand on her arm giving her new focus as she turned to her friend, "My Mom's in hospital she-she tried to kill herself."

Rachel hesitated, part of her brain clamping down on the horror of the situation and another part solely on the heartbroken look on Santana's face. The singer almost had to physically shake her head in an attempt to collect herself but she knew with one look at her friend what she needed to do, "Did you drive to school today?"

Santana nodded despondently, she had a vague memory of driving but not where she parked or even where her keys were.

"Okay." Rachel exhaled her hand dropping to link with one of Santana's, "We're going to leave your car here for tonight and I'm going to drive you to the hospital okay?"

The cheerleader nodded again her mind numb as she allowed Rachel to gently tug her forwards; she barely registered Miss Pillsbury saying something as they walked passed. It wasn't until Rachel was pulling the car out of the parking lot that Santana was aware of anything.

"Wait." Santana whispered her eyes panicked as she looked to her friend, "I have to change."

Rachel frowned as she carefully slowed down to stop at a red light.

"I just…I can't go there like this…" Santana explained as she gestured down to her red and white cheerleading uniform her hands shaking, "I can't…I-It's not right, it's stupid – a cheerleader at a hospital? I can't see my Mom like this, I can't-"

Reaching a hand out to clasp one of Santana's that had started to tap anxiously against the passenger seat Rachel nodded, she could sense the panic attack creeping up on her friend so with a calm smile she replied, "I have a sweater in the back, you can borrow it if you want to."

"Okay." Santana breathed, her eyebrows scrunching together as she leant into the backseat to retrieve the sweater, "I should get flowers, I think. People take flowers right?"

"There's a florist at the hospital we can pick some up there if you'd like." Rachel soothed as she pulled the car away from the stop light.

Although the hospital was only a short drive from the school it felt like a lifetime and it took all of Rachel's concentration to focus on the road and not the girl next to her. She could feel the way Santana's hand was shaking in hers but somehow Rachel managed to manoeuvre the car through the thankfully quiet streets until the looming presence of the hospital appeared in front of them doing nothing calm either of their nerves.

"We're here." Rachel stated, aware of how unnecessary the words were but needing to break the quiet. Unbuckling her seatbelt she got out of the car and made her way around to the passenger side. Santana had yet to move and so Rachel took it upon herself to open the door, crouching down slightly she willed her friend to look at her, "You can do this Santana. I'm right here."

Santana nodded as she slowly undid her own seatbelt and allowed Rachel to help her out of the car, quickly slipping on the borrowed sweater she didn't hesitate to grab the diva's hand again as they made their way towards the hospital. As each step brought them closer and closer Santana could feel herself behind to shake with renewed fear, "I…I'm scared."

Rachel bit her lip as she turned to look at her friend, "I know but you're doing really well and I'm not going anywhere okay?"

"Okay." The cheerleader whispered as they passed through the entrance doors and headed to the reception desk, "Don't let go."

The hospital was loud and bustling, a stark contrast to the journey over but approaching the desk Santana spotted a small, elderly woman sat tapping away at her computer, it only took a few seconds for the receptionist to register the newcomers and with a welcoming smile she looked up, "Hello, how I can I help?"

Staring at the kindly receptionist Santana froze her mind at a loss for words. What was she supposed to say? Her palms suddenly felt sweaty and when her mouth opened to speak she couldn't seem to force the words out.

"Hello, we're here to see Marianna Lopez." Rachel piped up as she felt her friend tense, "She's was brought in earlier today."

"Okay. Are you relatives?" the woman queried as she turned to her computer and typed something in.

"This is her daughter, Santana Lopez."

"I see." The receptionist smiled her mood dropping slightly as she obviously read something from her screen, "It looks as though your Mother has been placed in ward six, if you take the elevator to the third floor and follow the signs towards the psychiatric unit you'll be able to find someone who can help you."

Santana grimaced but managed to mumble her thanks as she felt Rachel tug her away from the desk. She had never been more thankful to have the other girl by her side as she allowed her friend to guide her through the hospital and to where they needed to be, the feeling of her fingers intertwined with the singers was the only thing keeping her grounded.

"We're here." Rachel announced as she brought them to a stop by another almost identical desk, "Do you want me to ask?"

Santana shrugged, she hated feeling so useless but it was as though every time she tried to form a thought her mind short circuited.

"Santana?"

A voice from behind her made the cheerleader jump and turning on her heel she faltered as she was forced to let go of Rachel's hand, only to feel the singer turn with her and reached out to re-join their hands.

"Papi?" Santana whispered in disbelief, her eyes roaming across her father's face as if waiting for him to disappear. It was only now that he was standing in front of her that it hit her, "You didn't call me."

"I had the hospital notify your school." Mr Lopez reasoned as he gripped the chart he was holding in both hands.

Santana looked down as she frowned, it hadn't seemed so strange at first – that it had been Miss Pillsbury to break the news to her, but now standing in the psychiatric ward opposite her obviously uncomfortable father it hit her hard. Swallowing back the lump that had formed in her throat she whispered, "Is she awake? Can I see her?"

The simple questions seemed to snap the older man from his discomfort and into his well-practised doctor mode, "She's resting now, your mother ingested a large number of high strength painkillers and although we were lucky and the paramedics were able to get her here quickly she is still weak. She needs time to rest and recuperate, it might be best for you to come back another time."

"But…I want to see her. Can I at least see her?" Santana tried again, her eyes watering as she fought to maintain her composure.

"She isn't awake." Dr Lopez sighed as he shook his head, "I can assure you she has the best team looking after her, and she's going to be fine. I spoke to Dr Buzan and he said that there's no lasting physical damage but they are looking at keeping her here for a little while so you'll have plenty of time to-"

"Keeping her here?" Santana repeated her voice strained as she added "You mean…here, in the psych ward?"

"She needs help and this is the best place for her." Dr Lopez stated, his formal tone leaving no room for discussion, "I'm needed back down in the ER, perhaps you should come back tomorrow when she is awake."

Santana nodded, her shoulders slumped as she looked up at her father. She knew what he was doing, hiding behind his medical bravado and making her and her Mother another patient file so he wouldn't have to peak out from behind the walls he'd spent the past years building up but knowing that didn't make it any easier. She needed her Dad, not a doctor, she needed him to hug her and tell her everything was going to be okay and that this, this was the turning point and that there wasn't any more rock bottom to hit. Instead she watched him clutching that stupid chart in one hand as he stuffed the other into his pocket. Taking a shaky breath Santana whispered, "Are you…do you have to work tonight?"

"I already told you I'm needed downstairs." Dr Lopez replied as he did his best to avoid eye contact with his daughter.

"It's just…I…I need you-"

The sound of a pager echoed through the hallway and with an almost relived glint in his eye Santana's father snatched his pager from his belt, "I have to go. I'll be sure to keep an eye on her and I'll get someone to call if anything happens okay?"

"Okay." Santana shrugged, her words lost on the man as he turned and quickly sped off down the now bustling hallway. She watched him for as long as she could, until a swarm of people in scrubs obscured her view and she lost him among the other doctors.

"Santana?" Rachel murmured, her hand tightening around the other girls, "Are you-?"

"I'm fine." Santana interrupted, her words short and clipped, "It's fine, it's better that he's here. He can check up on her and then there's always someone here for her. It's fine."

Rachel frowned as she turned to look at her friend, she still couldn't believe what had happened and seeing the way Santana had reacted only made her heart ache more, "Sweetie-"

"Can you drive me back to my house please?" Santana instructed, her eyes lingering on the wall behind Rachel's head rather than the girl herself, "I think…I'll come back tomorrow."

"Are you sure? You are more than welcome to stay at my house tonight." Rachel tried as she felt Santana impatiently tugging her towards the elevator, her urgency to leave propelling them through the other people walking around, "I don't think you should be alone right now."

Santana winced at the words, her heart heavy as she remembered the big empty house waiting for her, "I need to be alone Rachel, I…please, just drive me home."

Rachel stayed quiet as she clung to Santana and let her weave them in and out of various people until they were back and sat in her car. She couldn't shake the image of Doctor Lopez from her head, the way he treated his own daughter like a stranger, the way he avoiding looking at either of them and the way he chose work over his disintegrating family. Sliding into the car and flicking the ignition on Rachel steered the car out of the parking lot and back towards town, she found herself shooting constant glances in Santana's direction but the other girl had chosen to stare blankly out the window her hands folded together on her lap as she watched the houses fly by.

Pulling up to the next junction Rachel tried again, "I know you said you wanted to be by yourself Santana but I really don't think-"

"I meant it." Santana stated her gaze still focused away from her friend, "Take me to my house."

Rachel shook her head but reluctantly indicated left even as her brain was screaming at her to go right, she only had a few more streets until Santana's house and she had no idea how to make her friend change her mind.

"He might…he might come home tonight. I know he said that he had to work but…" Santana whispered finally as Rachel slowed the car to a stop outside the Lopez residence, "I need to be here if he changes his mind."

Rachel sighed; she didn't know how to argue with that. She couldn't crush Santana and tell her that her father seemed intent on not being there for her but it didn't feel right letting her friend cling to false hope that he might have a change of heart, "You could leave him a note in case he does come back? Tell him you're staying with me then he can call you and I'll drive you straight over."

"No, I have to be here." Santana replied, her eyes finally turning to her friend as she whispered, "But thank you for coming with me. I know this is a lot to deal with and I'm sorry you had to…"

"Hey, it's okay." Rachel replied as the other girl trailed off sadly, "I already told you, I'm here for you no matter what so don't worry about it alright? Do you…I could stay with you."

Santana gave a quick smile before opening the door and getting out of the car, "I'll be fine."

"You know I'm going to call you tonight." Rachel half-shouted to her friend before the door could slam shut, "And text and Facebook and tweet and…send pigeons or learn smoke signals."

"No singing telegrams?" Santana quipped as she leant her arm against the door and ducked her head down to smile at Rachel.

"Well of course, that's a given." Rachel chuckled as she leant across in her seat, "But seriously, I'm calling you the second I get home."

Santana smiled as she stepped back, "Then go, I'll be fine."

Hearing the door slam shut Rachel watched as Santana slowly made her way up the path and towards her front door. Even after the other girl had shot her a half-hearted wave and disappeared inside Rachel still hesitated before pulling away from the curb, her teeth gnawing nervously on her bottom lip as she prayed she wasn't making a terrible mistake.