A/N - Happy New Year readers. I don't have much to say about this chapter. It's kind of 'bouncy' meaning it has it's good moments, and it's sad and angry ones. I hope you like it. I have the best readers ever, you guys make me happy.
Shelby Cocoran was a particularly strong woman. Especially when it came to her true emotions. At times, it wasn't easy for her to show it, but her strength was there. Even if she wasn't always personally aware of it. She was a single Mother, and had made the choice to be one all on her own. She didn't have too many friends, because she wanted to avoid drama in her life as much as possible. She had dreams. Big ones, most of which would never come true, but it didn't matter. Whatever she had to face in her life, her strength would always win in the end. Only at the moment, she couldn't do anything but cry, and let her anger get the best of her.
"What the Hell is the matter with you", she yelled, through her tears.
"Shelby...I'm sorry", cried Judy.
She was sitting on the couch in Shelby's living room, holding Quinn's hand. She felt so exposed. After all, her daughter had wiped off just enough of her make up to show the black eye Russell had given her the night before. She wanted to crawl in a hole and die. The feelings she was experiencing weren't familiar, and she wasn't sure how to handle them.
"Sorry for what", Shelby continued, as she stood up from the couch, and started to pace around. "...for not telling me, or for actually staying married to a man who has the nerve to hit you in the face?"
"I couldn't tell you...".
"Why not?"
"I didn't want to loose you...I've never had a friend like you. I didn't want to ruin it...".
"God...",cried Shelby."You honestly believe that I would have just ended our friendship if you told me something like this?"
"I...I w-wasn't sure. I'm not used to this, I just didn't want you to get angry with me. Like you are now...".
"Of course I'm angry...but more with him than anyone else, I promise you that. Please tell me...I mean, not that I really want to know this, but...has your entire marriage to Russell been one big abusive nightmare?"
Judy just looked down, and continued to sob. She was clearly ashamed.
"Quinn, how long has this been going on", asked Shelby, who still couldn't keep her feet planted in one spot.
"For as long as I can remember...", said Quinn, calmly, as Rachel reached forward and wiped some tears from her face.
"What about you, he abuses you too?"
Quinn first looked to her mother, and than away from everyone, without saying a word. Rachel looked at her mother, and nodded to confirm her suspicion.
"Jesus...", said Shelby, putting her attention back on Judy."...so you didn't just let him hurt you, it actually went so far that you let him hurt your own daughters? Is that why you barely speak to Chelsea? Did she leave because of him?"
"Mom...", warned Rachel."...you really need to calm down, making her feel bad about it, won't make it any better."
"Really, and you would know how", spat Shelby. Rachel just shot her a look as if she was saying, are you serious.
"Oh...right. I'm sorry, sweetheart."
She was letting her anger take over too quickly, and she was starting to become aware. She did her best to calm down, and relax her tone a little. "Judy...I'm...not trying to make you feel bad...I just...really wish you would have told me. I would have done something about it."
"Nothing needs to be done about it, Shelby. I've been dealing with it by myself for years, there is no reason to change that now", cried Judy.
"Mom, there is so many reasons to change it now, how can you really think that", asked Quinn."Look at you and me. We're closer than we've ever been. You have a best friend now, you're dressing more comfortably, your hair is down, the whole time we've been here you've been nothing but smiles and sunshine! How can you just ignore that?"
Judy couldn't think of anything to say, and Shelby just shook her head, and wiped some of her own tears away. Rachel needed to say something, she couldn't help it. She knew the situation all too well, but was worried about how it might sound to her girlfriend's mother, coming from her. She was much younger, and wasn't trapped in the situation nearly as long. However, she couldn't sit there and keep her mouth shut.
"Mrs. Fabray...I know what you're going through...".
"How could you know? You're just a child...", sobbed Judy.
"No, Judy she's not. Our girls, they aren't...immature little kids anymore, they've been through things...", said Shelby.
"Rachel went through it with Jesse, Mom", said Quinn."She knows how you feel, you have to trust her."
Judy just looked at Rachel, tears rolling down her face. It broke Rachel's heart to hear her as she was. Exposed, crying, and fighting for what she thought was worth fighting for.
"It's not worth it...", she said quietly."He'll always win in the end unless you swallow your pride, and leave. Or...unless you're forced to leave...".
"He doesn't know how to be by himself, he won't know what to do without me", argued Judy."If I don't stay...he'll loose his mind. Horrible things will happen with him, I know it."
"Oh, come on, Mom! That is such shit, and you know it is! He has you wrapped around his finger, and he's so damn proud of that, it's almost like he thinks he deserves a medal for it!"
"Quinny...".
"No, he cheated on you! After all he's put you through over the years, he actually managed to find another way to hurt you, and what do you do? You let him come back, you let him get away with it! You forgave and forgot, just like that!"
"I will never forget! And, I never forgave him", defended Judy, through her tears."I know I told you I did, but I lied, I didn't forgive him than, and I don't now!"
"Why did you lie to me about it?"
"I wanted to forgive him, I really honestly wanted to, but I was having a very hard time with it. I knew I would forgive him in time, at least I thought I would. I was wrong...and eventually I came to realize that I never would forgive him. Especially after that woman talked to me."
"What woman", asked Shelby.
"The one he cheated on me with...her name is Hannah."
"Wait, you talked to her? When? Where? And, what the Hell...", asked Quinn.
"I was at Breadsticks with some ladies from church. I excused myself to go the bathroom, and she approached me", said Judy, thinking back to the conversation.
She was washing her hands in the ladies room, when a slightly younger woman, with an abundance of tattoos, and a nose piercing walked in. Judy caught her staring through the reflection of the mirror, and simply smiled politely.
"Oh my God...it's you...", said the woman.
"Excuse me", asked Judy, as she turned the water off, and dried her hands.
"You're Russell's wife...".
Judy turned and studied the woman. It didn't take her very long to figure out who she was.
"Oh...", she said, quietly.
"I'm...Hannah...".
Judy just nodded, and looked down.
"Okay...I know this is weird...but, I have to ask. Are you...alright?"
"Why would that matter to you", asked Judy, with the slightest bit of anger in her voice.
"Listen...I didn't know he was married...".
"Yes, he was. He has kids as well, but obviously, that didn't stop you, did it?"
"Actually, that's exactly what stopped me", she answered."...well that, and some other things."
"What do you mean", asked Judy, folding her arms across her chest.
"When I did find out...I ended it, or at least I tried. He got really pissed off at me. He tried making me feel bad about it. He screamed at me about how he went to so much trouble for me, how he left you for me. At first, I did feel bad, but it didn't matter, I wouldn't be with a married man. Once I made that known, he lost his temper...he kind of came after me. He ended up hitting me pretty hard, but I got him back. I kicked him in between the legs so hard, I swear he had to have seen birds circling his head. After that, I told him if he ever came near me again I'd kill him, simple as that."
"Oh God...", said Judy, under her breath.
"So, that's why I'm asking if your alright. I can only assume he puts you through that a lot. I had heard that he moved back home...".
Judy wasn't as angry as she had been before she knew the truth. She actually felt sorry for her, but not enough to get personal. She put her happy face on, and slowly headed towards the door.
"I appreciate you explaining that to me. Also, your concern is very sweet, but I'm just fine."
She was almost free, she had her hand on the door and was just about to push it open, when Hannah spoke once more.
"You didn't take him back, right? Please say you didn't...".
Without a word, Judy exited the ladies room, and never saw Hannah again after that.
When Judy was finished telling her story, she could only cry harder. Some of her tears were from sadness, some from feeling the relief of finally getting that out.
"He had the nerve to try it on his mistress", asked Quinn, in shock.
Judy just nodded.
"Alright...okay...", said Shelby, thoughtfully."...not that I think that's a good thing, but you need to learn from that, Judy."
"What do you mean, Mom", asked Rachel.
"I mean...it happened to her too, and that's terrible...but...it only happened to her once. She didn't let it happen again."
"I did learn something from her, just...not what you're thinking, Shelby", admitted Judy, through her tears.
"Than what...", asked Quinn, desperately.
"That...if I leave him...he'll just...find somebody else. I can't have that on my conscious. I won't let him hurt anyone else", the older Fabray cried.
"Oh my God...how familiar is that...", mumbled Rachel.
"What, sweetie", asked Shelby.
"Nothing...it's just...Jade says the same thing. You know...about Mika."
Shelby's expression turned to one of sadness, as she nodded her head as a sign that she understood.
"Mom...I love you. I do, I love you so much...but...you can't think like that. Right now, you have to think about yourself...you have to be a little selfish, you have to get out of this. It's true, he might find somebody else, and he might treat them just as badly, but...that's so bad to think about", cried Quinn.
"Yeah...it's a what if question", said Rachel.
"Yes...", exclaimed Quinn, wiping her eyes."...just like Santana says. It's a what if question. Those are scary and dangerous, Mom. You can't do that to yourself. Please...don't do that to yourself...".
Judy just cried more, and buried her face into Quinn's shoulder. She hugged her mother tightly, and rubbed her back. Shelby had said almost everything she wanted, and thought she needed to say. However, she surprised herself and everybody else in the room, with the next few statements that came from her mouth.
"Judy...I know we haven't been friends for very long, but I know when friendship is real. I hate having friends, I always make it a point no to gain new friends in my life. Our daughters brought us together, and I'll admit, at first I didn't think it was a good idea. I was Hell bent on faking my way through a motherly bond with you. But...it's not like that. I love you, it's crazy but I do, I have never been closer with anyone else. You're my best friend. I've never had one of those...".
"Oh, Shelby...", cried Judy, as she looked at her.
"No, I mean it. I can't loose you, so I'm not just asking...I'm telling you this. Judy...you will leave him, and you will move in with me. I don't care what I have to do, or how long it takes me to make you realize that you don't need him, this ends now. Russell will not touch you, or hurt you anymore. As long as I am alive...you will be safe."
Quinn and Rachel couldn't help but smile a little through their sadness. They could both tell that Shelby was speaking from her heart. Every word she was saying was true.
"Listen to me...", the older woman continued. She carefully pulled Judy away from Quinn, and placed her hands on her shoulders."...I know...I was angry...I still am, but...I care about you so much. Honest to God...I never thought you and I would speak to each other, much less spend way too much time together. But...Judy...you mean so much to me. I can't let anything happen to you...I just can't."
Judy nodded slowly, as she looked into Shelby's eyes.
"You have to do this, Judy. For yourself, for Quinn and Chelsea. For me...because I care so much about you. More than I'm even able to explain. Don't make this harder than it needs to be. Just...stay with me. Please...".
At first, Judy just looked away.
"Mom...please...", begged Quinn, quietly."I brought some of your things from the house. Your overnight bag is in Rachel's car...".
"Please ...you have to...", said Rachel.
Meanwhile, Santana sat with Jade in her arms. The two of them, and Brittany were at the Lopez residence. They were sitting in Santana's old bedroom, on her bed. Jade lay comfortably on her back, nestled in between Santana's legs. The Latina's arms wrapped lovingly around her. Brittany sat Indian style beside them.
"Look at you", the tall blond was saying."...you're like so tired. Are you sure you're okay, Jade?"
"I'm fine, Britt...I am."
"Don't lie sweetness", said Santana."You need to be honest with us, and with yourself."
"Yeah...", agreed Brittany.
Jade just smiled tiredly.
"I'm sleepy. It's so weird...I wasn't expecting to see everybody so soon. I'm super in love with this day...it kinda' feels like...I'm dreaming while I'm awake", said Jade, happily, exhaustion in her tone.
"Oh, you can totally dream while you're awake. I fell asleep with my eyes open on the plane ride here. Right, San", asked Brittany, as if Jade wasn't going to believe her.
Santana held back her laughter, and nodded her head.
"Right, Britts."
"Yeah, it was so weird. I think I had dream...and I think it was...about you", said the blond, smiling lovingly at Jade.
Jade smiled back.
"I missed you both...so much", she said.
The statement was perfect. It was pretty much exactly what they needed to hear at that moment. Brittany looked at Santana, who nodded her head slowly. The two of them knew it was the right time to confess what it was they wanted. Sure, Jade was buzzed from dinner, and she was fighting sleep, but still...it was time.
"Jade...there's something you should know."
"Don't worry...", said Jade, sensing the worry in Brittany's voice."...I know you two are back together. After I left...I kinda' figured that's how it would be. I'm not mad...I'm happy. I like that you two still love each other."
"Yeah, we do love each other...", said Santana."...but we also love you. That was the bad news. It's true, me and Britts...we got back together after you were taken away. Only...now there's a problem. One that could be solved, but only if you're okay with it."
"Yeah, and we really want you to be okay with it, Jade. If you're not...I'll be so sad, I can't lie", said Brittany.
"Be okay with what", asked Jade. She was clearly confused, but it was to be expected. Brittany shifted onto her knees, and placed her hands on either side of Jade's body. She slowly leaned forward, and stopped when she was just inches away from Jade's face.
"It's easier for me to show you than tell you. Can I...show you", she asked, nervously. Jade just nodded her head. For some reason, her heart was beating fast, and she was convinced both of them could hear it. Without another word being spoken, Brittany closed the gap between her and Jade. She pressed her lips softly against hers. She half expected Jade to pull back, but it was the opposite. Jade melted into the kiss and returned it. Sure, it was slow, but it was happening. The darker girl did feel more than just a little awkward. She was, still cuddled into Santana after all. Little did she know, that Santana was smiling as she watched the two if them kiss. The Latina couldn't deny it. She was partly smiling because it was one of the hottest, sexiest sites she had ever seen. However, she was also so happy to see that Jade wasn't freaking out.
Once Brittany finally broke the kiss, she stayed close to Jade's face. She was terrified of what her reaction would be, but she couldn't bring herself to draw back. She slowly raised her hand, and caressed Jade's cheek. She found herself wiping a few of the girls tears away.
"Why are you crying, Jade", she whispered.
"I...I'm...confused...", she sobbed.
"We both want you, Sweetness", said Santana."Neither of us blame you for being confused, it's totally understandable. This isn't what anyone would call a normal situation...I guess. It's just...we want to be in a relationship with you. Together."
"You mean like...all three of us", asked Jade, and she sniffled a little bit.
"Yeah...all three of us, together", said Brittany."I love you, Jade. Me and San...we're both so in love with you, and it just makes sense. Nobody has to choose. But...if you don't feel the same about me, it's alright. I mean, I'd be sad...but I wouldn't be mad because I never actually told you how I felt.
"I...think I already knew...", said Jade.
"Really", asked Santana.
"Yes...".
"Why didn't you say anything?"
"I was scared. I have the same feelings for you, Britt. I just didn't wanna' hurt Santana...I didn't really know how to deal with it. I've never felt like this before...I...I...love you both the same way."
Santana glanced at Brittany, and they smiled at one another.
"Does that mean...you'll be with both of us", asked Brittany, hopefully.
Jade took a deep breath, and closed her eyes.
"You don't have to decide now...it's alright if you need to think about it", noted the Latina, as she tightened her hold around the girl.
"No...no, I don't need to think about it...", said Jade, quietly."...I'll...be with you. Both of you."
"Oh my God...", cried the blond."...you really will?"
"Yeah."
"You're not just doing this because we want it, right? You really want this too", asked Santana.
"Yeah, I really want this, I promise", cried Jade.
Brittany let out a nervous little giggle, and once again, pressed her lips to Jade's.
"Fucking beautiful...", smiled Santana.
After a while, Santana's phone rang. She saw that it was Mercedes, so she got up and hurried into the hallway.
"What's up", she answered.
"You need to move Jade out of your house like now! The Price family is on the prowl...get her out!"
Santana could tell that Mercedes wasn't messing around. She could hear yelling, and fighting in the background. There was glass being broken, and she swore she heard Jonah and Puck screaming and swearing.
"Whoa, what the Hell is going on? Where are you?"
"No time, Santana. Get Jade out of your house...get her out now! Call me when you get her somewhere!"
"Where is she supposed to go?"
"Uh...um...Shelby's! Take her to Shelby's...shit girl I gotta' go...I'll get back to you as soon as I can just make sure you get her out of there in the next like ten minutes!"
The line went dead, and Santana went back into her bedroom. Jade was well on her way to sleep, and Brittany lay with her arms around her. She looked at Santana, knew instantly that something wasn't right.
"What is it, San?"
"Jade...Jade...listen to me...do you think you can walk to my car", asked Santana, frantically. She didn't get an answer.
"She's too tired, San. What's happening?"
"Pick her up, let's go", demanded the Latina. Brittany quickly got up and scooped Jade from the bed. Santana grabbed Jade's backpack from the floor, and they were out the door. They got Jade in the back seat, got in, and sped towards Shelby's. After just a few minutes of driving, Santana noticed that Brittany wouldn't stop looking in the rear view mirror.
"Don't worry, baby...she's just sleeping...".
"I know, I wasn't looking at her...I think there's a car following us...".
"What", asked Santana, looking in the mirror.
"They've made both turns that we've made...", said Brittany.
"Shit...they are getting really close", said Santana. With that, she slammed on the breaks, and stopped the car dead in the middle of the street.
"Oh my God, San", shrieked Brittany.
Sure enough, the intruding vehicle behind them stopped too.
"Wow, they aren't even trying to hide it."
"Somebody's getting out", said Brittany, looking out the back window.
"Alright...when I get out of the car...lock the doors."
"No, don't get out!"
"Britts, it's alright just stay here, and lock the doors when I get out, okay?"
Brittany swallowed, and nodded her head. Santana smiled at her warmly before she took her seat belt off, and got out of the car. The minute she had shut the door, Brittany locked the doors, and scrambled into the backseat. She pulled Jade's body onto her lap, and held her tight. She couldn't understand how the girl was sleeping through everything, but she happy she was.
Santana stood close to the car as an older looking girl approached her.
"Who are you, and why the Hell are you following me", spat the Latina. She had no idea who the girl was, but all she could think about was protecting her girlfriends.
"Holy Hell...chill out", laughed the girl."You got my baby sister in the back of your car."
"Wha-...".
"Don't play dumb...I know you do."
Santana looked at the girl closely. She had Jade's round little button nose, and dark chocolate eyes.
"Oh Jesus...you're Nessa...", she growled.
"Wow, nice to meet you too", she laughed.
"Look, I know you think you're taking Jade home with you, but you have to get by me to get to her. And I can promise you, bitch...that is so not gonna' happen. So, why don't you just save yourself the trouble of a serious ass beating, get back in your car, and go the Hell home."
"You need to relax, I'm not here to take her back home."
"Do you think I'm stupid? You're gonna' stand there and tell me that your crazy ass excuse for a family didn't send you to my house to get her?"
"No, I'm not gonna' tell you that, but if you'd just shut your damn mouth for like a second...I will explain", snapped Nessa. Santana looked her up and down. She dressed nice, obviously cared about her appearance, and was actually very attractive. If the Latina hadn't known her to be such a bitch, she probably would have thought she was hot.
"Go ahead...explain. Or at least try, but I'm telling you right now, if I think for one second that you're bullshitting me...I will get back in the car, and drive away. If you follow me, I'll stop again, and kick your sorry ass. Understood?"
Nessa just laughed a little, and nodded.
Yeah keep laughing bitch...
"So Jonah's at the house...him and his friend are beating the living piss out of my brother Mika...".
"What?"
"Oh yeah, the shit has hit the fan at my parents house."
"Where are you parents", asked Santana.
"Out looking for my sister, and helping a friend of the family look for his wife."
"Oh wow", laughed Santana."By a friend of the family, do you mean Russell Fabray?"
"Maybe...".
"Good luck with that."
"I know where Judy is, and I know that's exactly where you're taking Jada. Just be glad I haven't shot that information to my parents yet...".
"Go on...".
"Don't get me wrong, I think Jada's a stupid over sensitive little emo bitch bag, and Jonah...he's no prize either."
"You're loosing me...", warned Santana, as she took a step back.
"Years...and years of being smacked around is obviously starting to have an effect on, Jonah. I saw a fire in his eyes tonight that I have never seen. Ever. Soon as he started going off about how scared he is of loosing Jada, and how he would do anything to get her out of the house...he started crying his eyes out. I have no idea how often he freaks out like this, but I haven't seen him cry like that since he was like ten years old."
"What's your point?"
"My point is...I knew there was something he wasn't telling me. Something really bad. So...I got into it with his girlfriend...that Mercedes chick. She starts bitching at me about how I'm just a big a...pervert...as him for not stopping it."
Santana could tell Nessa was trying not to get upset, but she was failing miserably.
"I didn't know...what she was talking about...".
"Oh, fuck off", snapped Santana."You're a lying bitch!"
"I swear to God...I didn't know he was...doing that to her! I never knew", yelled Nessa, breaking into tears. "Do you honestly think I would have just let it go?"
"I wouldn't doubt it...I know what a nasty bitch you are, Nessa! True, this is the first time we've met, but I haven't heard one good thing about you the entire time I've known Jade and Jonah! Not one! So, do I honestly believe that you would just let it go? Yes, I do! You're parents did, so why wouldn't you?"
"If I would have known, I would have put a stop to it, I promise you that!"
"Your promises mean shit to me", spat Santana, as she turned around to leave.
"I'm not telling my parents where she is. I'm gonna' help you guys get her back to New York.", said Nessa, as a desperate attempt to stop Santana from getting in the car. Santana stopped, and reluctantly turned back around."I won't follow you there, I won't even say anything to Mr. Fabray about where his wife is. But...you have to let me talk to my sister."
"Not a chance in Hell."
"Please...I just want her to know that I would have killed him had I found out before tonight. She needs to know that...", cried the older girl. "I'll do whatever you guys want...but please...I'm begging you...let me talk to her."
Santana thought for a second. She didn't want to trust her, but she didn't think she had a choice. If she really was going to help, it would make things easier on everybody.
"She's out of it. She's been sleeping like a brick lately...but I guess you already knew that."
"Yeah", said Nessa, wiping her eyes"...you know that Sobe Life water shit she drinks all the time?"
Santana nodded.
"My Mom's been crushing up sleeping pills, and putting some of the powder in the bottles. Sometimes, in her food as well."
"You have got to be fucking kidding me...", breathed Santana.
"Oh, and when she drinks alcohol it just makes her even more tired, so...that's why she sleeps so heavy now."
"Do you have any idea how much damage that is probably doing to her body? She's already sick, God! That's probably making it so much fucking worse", snapped Santana.
Nessa just nodded.
"Alright...come here", said Santana.
The older, darker girl moved forward very slowly, and stopped just a few feet from Santana. Luckily, they were on a back road, and it was very late, so no other cars had come.
"You won't hurt her?"
"If I try anything...you can totally thrash me, and I won't even fight back."
Santana smirked, and nodded her head. She knocked on the window, and waited as Brittany unlocked the back door, and opened it. She knelt down outside the car, and took a deep breath.
"San...is that who I think it is", asked Brittany.
"Yeah...it's Jade's sister, baby. She's saying she's on our side...so we have to let her talk to her. Just for a minute...".
"Nooo...", whined Brittany, just like Santana knew she would.
"I know...but we need her help. This is the only way we're gonna' get it."
"How do you know we can trust her?"
"I don't...but right now...it's a risk I'll have to take, Britts."
"No...I don't like this", whined Brittany, pulling a sleeping Jade closer to her.
"Tell you what. You can hold onto her the entire time. Deal?"
Brittany glanced behind Santana, and looked Nessa up and down.
"Okay...", she said, quietly."Deal."
After they had gotten Jade to wake up, and stay focused, everything was explained to her slowly. Santana than moved out of the way, and Nessa knelt down. Santana leaned up against the side of the car, and crossed her arms. She wanted to be as close as possible in case she had to throw any punches. Brittany had both her arms wrapped around Jade from behind, and just stared at Nessa with a blank look on her face. She had no idea what to think, but she was very nervous.
"Hey Jada...", said the older girl.
"Hi Nessa...".
"You okay?"
"Mhm."
"Look...saying I've spent the better part of our lives together treating you like shit...would be the biggest understatement ever. I could go down the list, and name all the horrible things I've ever done to you. Or, I could just tell you...that I'm sorry for everything."
A really sad expression came across Jade's face as she listened to her older sister.
"I just...I really want you to forgive me. And...I know that you're not going to."
"I do forgive you", sobbed Jade. "I know you didn't mean to be like that...".
"That's just it...I did mean it", cried Nesaa."Jada...I love you like a sister, but...I honestly hate you as a person."
"Oh my God", said Brittany in disbelief.
"Okay, you're fucking done now", said Santana, and she grabbed Nessa and pulled her away from the car.
"Wait", cried Jade, breaking free from Brittany, and climbing out of the car.
"No, it's time for her to go now, Jade", said Santana.
"She's just being honest with me...it's okay, I understand", said Jade.
"That was so mean...", said Brittany, as she got out of the car.
"Listen, I'm sorry...it's the truth. You confuse me, I don't get you at all, and I probably never will. Regardless...I want you to know...no...I need you to know...that I never knew what Mika was doing to you. I swear to God, Jada I didn't know until Jonah's girlfriend told me...".
"Really", asked Jade.
"I'm sorry...I wish...you would have told me. Doesn't matter how I feel about you...he took things too far and I would have stopped him. I know that doesn't really mean shit now, but you needed to hear it. I guess helping you guys with this whole situation is my way of making it up to you...".
"It does mean something now. The fact that you're even saying it at all...means a lot. I'm sorry I can't be...a person that you like."
"Okay. You told her, you can go now", said Santana, walking towards the older girl. Nessa just nodded.
"Wait...Nessa...will you hug me", asked Jade.
"What?"
"I wanna' hug you. I mean...you're helping us. You deserve a hug for that."
"Why?"
"Oh my god, just give her a hug, please", said Brittany, desperation in her tone.
"I can't do that Jada...I'm sorry", said Nessa, and with that, she turned around and walked toward her own car. Jade just stood, watching her sister drive away. She looked like she had just been slapped across the face.
"Wow", said Santana, shaking her head.
"Come here, cutie. I'll hug you, it's okay", said Brittany pulling Jade close to her.
"Jesus...and I thought I was a bitch...", said Santana, as her cellphone started going off. She grabbed it from her pocket, and answered it without even looking at the screen.
"Hello?"
"S...where are you, what's going on", asked Quinn, on the other line.
"God, I don't even know how to explain what the fuck just happened...", breathed Santana.
"You have Brittany and Jade with you, right?"
"Yeah, we just had a pretty interesting conversation with Jade's sister...".
"Wait, what? Okay, does she know you were going to Shelby's?"
"Relax, she's not gonna' say a word. How did you know we were going there?"
"Mercedes called Rachel's phone freaking out, saying we needed to get my mom away from Shelby's. Than she told me to call you, and tell you not to bring Jade there anymore."
"Well what the fuck, she couldn't call me herself and tell me that? If we wouldn't have gotten distracted, what would of happened?"
"I don't know...now is not the time to get bitchy, San. Where are you?"
"Parked in the middle of Springer Road. Like literally...".
"Wait, the back road?"
"Yeah."
"That's actually perfect...we're in the car now. Stay right there, see you in five", said Quinn, and she hung up.
"Why does nobody ever say goodbye anymore", snapped Santana, as she shoved her phone back into her pocket.
By than, Jade was still in Brittany's arms, and she was starting to shiver.
"Britts, get her back in the car...she's in a skirt, and has no jacket on. Why Jonah let her leave the house like that, I don't know."
Brittany nodded, and helped Jade lay back down in the car. She made sure she was comfortable, and than just the door. A few minutes later, Rachel's car pulled up. She got out of the driver's seat, and was followed by Quinn, Shelby, and Judy.
"Whoa, what the Hell is going on", asked Santana, as they approached her and Brittany.
"My Dad's like all over Lima trying to find my Mom. He's with the Price's...", said Quinn. "We don't think there's any way he could know she'd be at Shelby's, but we left just to be safe."
"Good plan", said Santana.
"I knew this would happen. I knew it...", said Judy, shaking her head.
"Everything will be just fine, all we need to do is stay out of site for a while", said Shelby, putting her arm around Judy. "It's not like he can force you to go back home. He can try, but he'll have to deal with me."
"It's not that he can force her, but you better believe he will talk her into it", said Quinn.
"Quinny...stop it", warned the older Fabray.
"You know I'm right. Anyways, I just talked to Mercedes again. She knows where we are. Supposedly, she's on her way with Puck and Jonah. I have absolutely no idea what happened at that house, but it wasn't good."
"How do you know that", asked Brittany.
"I heard what sounded like a wrestling match in the background when she called me, and I'm pretty sure she was crying."
"Great...", breathed Santana."I guess they really did beat the Hell out of Mika."
"Where's Jade", asked Rachel, looking around.
"Don't worry, Tiny. She's fast asleep in the car."
Rachel hurried over to the car, and opened the door. She sat down on the edge of the seat, and moved Jade's hair from her face. She didn't look like she'd be waking up anytime soon.
"I don't understand why she's so damn tired. She didn't drink that much wine at dinner, did she", asked the tiny girl.
"Oh, yeah...about that", said Santana, and she went into telling everybody about Nessa's little roadside visit. By the time she was done, Quinn and Rachel were fuming.
"She told her she hated her?"
"Yeah...it was so horrible, you should have seen the look on her face", said Brittany.
"Yeah, the oldest Price girl has always had a really big attitude problem. She gets it from her mother", said Judy.
"I cannot believe you even let her near Jade...", said Quinn.
"It was the only way to get to her keep her mouth shut, Q. What else could I have done? If I wouldn't have, she would have gone off and told where your Mom and Jade were!"
"You don't know that, she could have been lying to you", snapped Quinn.
"Oh my God...do not fight with me right now...I'll bitch slap you back to last week...", growled the Latina.
"Screw you!"
"You guys, don't start...please", begged Rachel.
"No, screw you, Tubbers! As if this night could get any worse, you wanna' pick a fight with me in the middle of a back road, about something that I did to help the situation! You have got to be joking, Quinn!"
"I'm not picking a fight with you, I'm trying to tell you how incredibly stupid it was for you to trust Nessa Price! Did she tell you how she knew where my Mom was? Or how about how she knew to find Jade with you, did you ask her that, smart ass?"
"Alright, alright girls, knock it off", said Shelby, stepping in between them."This is not the right time for you two to be bickering, there are bigger things going on here. Unfortunately we won't know if we can trust that girl until something happens, or until nothing happens. Relax...".
Santana and Quinn just looked at each other, than wandered in separate directions without saying anything more. After a while, Mercedes finally showed up in her own car. Without the boys, and she was clearly shaken up.
"Whoa...", said Quinn as her and Brittany moved towards the girl."Cedes...what happened, what's wrong?"
"Um...we have a serious problem."
I know, I know I'm mean with my cliffhangers. You can beat me up later, I promise. Thanks for reading guys, don't forget to review, and feedback is just heavenly.