Her Smile Heals Me (part 4)
"David…take a seat please," Principal Figgins said to the McKinley High linebacker as he opened the door to the principal's office Friday morning.
David Karofsky stepped in and saw that Will Shuester and Emma Pillsbury were also seated in the office with an unknown man in a suit and tie.
"What's going on?" the teen asked hesitantly without sitting.
"David, please sit down and we'll explain," Figgins instructed.
Karofsky sat down, looking behind him and seeing a second man in a suit move to stand in front of the office door. He suddenly felt boxed in, his anger rising.
"David, this is Detective Sheldon," Figgins introduced the man who was seated, "and behind you is Detective Mills. They're with the Lima police department, and they have some questions for you."
"No way! I want to call my dad," Karofsky sat up on the edge of his chair, fists clinched.
"Whoa, son…calm down," Detective Sheldon gestured for him to settle back down, "we're just here for some information. Ok?"
David drew in a settling breath and nodded.
The seated detective began, "It's my understanding that you are the boyfriend of Santana Lopez?"
David looked at Mr. Shuester then at Ms. Pillsbury. Emma was struggling internally to be in Karofsky's presence, sickened by the details already discovered about that night.
"Yeah, we've been going out for a few weeks. Why?"
"You're aware then that Miss Lopez is currently in the hospital?" Detective Sheldon asked.
"I heard that she was, yes."
"You heard that she was?" the detective scrutinized, "You haven't inquired recently as to your girlfriend's well being?"
"She's not my girlfriend!"
"She's not?" Will interjected, "The two of you stood in the choir room in front of me and Principal Figgins and the Glee Club and professed your love for each other."
"Is that true, son?" the detective quizzed.
"Well, yeah, but…," David shifted in his chair, responding, "…things change."
"You attended your prom with her last Friday, is that correct?"
"Yes," David swallowed hard. Fuck you, Santana…he thought, hating her for forcing herself into his world.
"What time did you leave the dance, David?"
"After it was over…around 11:00, I guess?" Karofsky watched the detective scribble a note on a small notepad.
"You were inside the gymnasium the entire time?"
"No," David looked at Principal Figgins.
"What time did you leave the gym?"
"10:00…10:15…something like that."
Detective Sheldon made another note on his pad. "Did you stay inside the school building?"
"No," he responded hesitantly.
"Where did you go when you left the building, David?"
"To the stadium."
Detective Sheldon turned slightly and cut his eyes toward Detective Mills. "David, what made you leave the dance?"
"It was no big deal…I just needed some air…it was getting hot in the gym," he said defensively.
"Did Miss Lopez leave with you?"
"No…she had to stay to sing."
"When was the next time you saw her?"
"At the stadium."
"Had the two of you agreed to meet there?"
David looked around the room with sweat forming on his brow, trying to quickly determine the story that made most sense, answering, "Yes."
Detective Sheldon uncrossed his legs and stopped writing, "Yes?"
"Yes," Karofsky restated with more confidence.
Emma looked at Will, trying to internally calm herself. The smug look on Karofsky's face was more than she could stand.
"What did the two of you do once she met you at the stadium?"
"Just typical teenager stuff."
"Like…?" the detective insisted.
"Like…smoking and drinking under the bleachers." Karofsky looked at Principal Figgins for a reaction. The oversized teen felt at this point that it was better to get busted for underage smoking and drinking than for…Goddamn you, Santana…he internally cursed her.
"Both of you were smoking and drinking?"
"Yeah," he lied, "we were both pretty drunk, I guess."
"Anything else happen…under the bleachers, David?"
David paused, feigning modesty, "Well…yeah…I mean we totally got it on…if that's what you're asking."
"Got it on?"
"We had sex…under the bleachers."
Emma squirmed awkwardly in her seat. Will fidgeted too, making eye contact with her then with Figgins.
"So it was consensual?"
"Totally!"
"Did you use a condom?" the experienced detective throughout there for reaction alone.
The question definitely caught Karofsky off guard, "What? No…um, it was more…impromptu than that."
"Impulsive, huh? So it got a little aggressive would you say?"
"What do you mean?"
"Did things get a bit out of hand?"
"We were a little…enthusiastic…I guess you could say. We were drunk," David shrugged.
"Is that how you got those scratches under your eye there?" Detective Sheldon pointed to Karofsky's left eye.
"I don't remember…maybe?" He had forgotten those were there.
"Uhuh…and…after…the two of you had sex…did you and she return to the dance together?"
"No."
"Did you take her home?"
"No."
"You're not much of a gentleman," Detective Mills said from behind David.
"She's not much of a lady," David smirked.
"What do you mean by that?" Detective Sheldon asked for clarification.
"Just that Santana's been around the block…many times…," he smiled.
"So you left the bleachers first or she did?"
"She did…I think she wanted to find her friend."
"Did she say who?"
"Brittany…they rode together that night."
"I see…but you had your car?"
"Yeah."
"Do you recall seeing anyone as you left?"
His memories were still fuzzy. "No…nobody in particular."
"When was the next time you saw Miss Lopez?"
"At school…I don't remember, Monday, Tuesday."
"So you knew nothing of her getting ill…until you heard she was in the hospital, right?"
"No, nothing…until I heard she was taken from school in an ambulance the other day."
"Ok, David…we'll be in touch," Detective Sheldon closed his notebook.
"David…you can return to class," Principal Figgins told him.
Karofsky stood and moved toward the door.
"Oh, and David…we will need some snaps of your eye there, buddy…just for our file," the seated detective added with an artificial grin, "We'll give your parents a call to schedule a time for you all to stop by the station."
The tall linebacker shifted awkwardly then turned to leave. Detective Mills who was equally tall stood in his path for a moment, blocking Karofsky's exit. The tall detective smiled intimidatingly at the oversized teen then step aside to let him pass through the door, closing it behind him.
"He's lying!" Emma could not hold in her disgust any longer.
"Ms. Pillsbury!" Figgins cautioned, "Let the detectives do their job."
"He cannot be allowed to victimize Santana all over again…blaming her for what he did to her is despicable!" The red-haired guidance counselor was fiercely protective.
"Ms. Pillsbury," Detective Sheldon stood, "I assure you, we've seen this before…and we will not take his story at face value. This investigation is not finished." He moved toward the door, "Thank you again for your time."
"Tina – please remember, no boots on the coffee table please," Rachel reminded nervously. The Asian girl lifted her heavy black, combat boots in the air then slowly lowered them to the floor, looking over at Mercedes who rolled her eyes.
"Ok, everyone, let's take out our notepads and our pencils and start brainstorming," the petite brunette directed, clapping her hands together. She noticed no movement as the rest of the Glee Club members looked around the basement living room at each other.
"Nobody brought anything to write on?" she asked in shock.
Mike Chang shrugged.
"You guys are kidding me, right? The entire point of you all being here is 'The 1st annual Nationals-song-WRITING party'…," she chastised.
"You said there would be dip," Puck stated, holding up a tortilla chip in front of him, "Here's my chip…it's got no dip."
"You can blame Finn," she pointed toward the teen quarterback who was sitting in a side chair with his long legs draped over one of the chair's arms, "HE was in charge of bringing the dip."
"Rachel, calm down…," Finn encouraged softly. He appreciated Rachel's passion about Glee Club and performing, but he too found her a bit annoying at times.
"Calm down? We have less than three weeks before our plane leaves for New York, guys," she reminded them, "…did you want to just wait until we're in our hotel room before we start writing songs?"
"Rachel's right…unfortunately," Kurt interjected, leaning over to take a yellow rhyming-words book off the stack that sat on the end table next to the couch, "Let's focus."
Tina moved to sit at the nearby piano, running her fingers across several random chords.
"That's pretty," Mercedes complimented her.
"Thanks!" she replied.
Rachel looked over at Finn who smiled.
Quinn reached the top of the basement stairs and rounded the corner, bumping right into Rachel who was carrying a bowl of fresh ice.
"Sorry!" the small brunette blushed at bumping into the blonde beauty, "…the basement fridge was out of ice."
"Someone was in the downstairs bathroom," Quinn told her, "I was just going to use the one in the hall."
"Yeah, no problem," she said then paused, "Quinn…?"
The blonde turned back around with a raised eyebrow.
"Is it true that you and Finn broke up?"
"Yes…you win, Rachel," the former Cheerio captain announced, "…Finn is all yours."
"It's not about winning, Quinn," the complex teen said softly.
"I know, Rachel."
The small brunette stared into the face of the blonde beauty. She saw pain in her green eyes. "Quinn, there will always be a special place in Finn's heart for you."
"It's not even really about Finn anymore."
Rachel looked at her, confused.
"Am I just looking in the wrong places?"
"For…?"
"Love? A spiritual connection? Anything more than the artificial crap I've experienced so far," the blonde confided.
"Maybe," the brunette admitted to her. "You're always reminding me, Quinn…that I will leave Lima someday…and, go on to bigger and better places."
"You are very talented, Rachel. I'm amazed sometimes actually."
Rachel paused at hearing these words from the girl who effortlessly insulted her most of the time. She swallowed hard before saying, "You are bigger than Lima too, Quinn. You don't give yourself enough credit. You are so worried about what you will accomplish in high school…it's like you want to make sure you have your whole life's plan in place before you graduate, but that's so limiting. You are one of the smartest people I've ever known, Quinn. This world is huge…and your dreams should be too."
The blonde leaned back against the wall, tears welling up in her green eyes. "That's probably the nicest thing anyone's ever said to me."
Rachel smiled at her. "The person who is meant for you is out there right now, Quinn…somewhere…probably leaning against a wall in their friend's house, wondering aloud if they'll ever meet the right person."
Quinn sniffed and wiped a wayward tear then smiled back at the small brunette, "That ice is melting…and I still need to pee."
Rachel laughed, "I'll see you back downstairs then."
Once Rachel reached the bottom of the stairs, she heard Kurt and Mercedes singing the beginning of their newly-written song. "That sounds wonderful!" she encouraged them "Mr. Shue will be thrilled when he hears it."
She felt a strong arm encircle her waist from behind, and she looked up to see Finn smiling down at her. He leaned over and whispered in her ear, "I overheard what you said to Quinn."
"And…?" she asked, her brow furrowed in anticipation of what he was thinking.
"And…I have never loved you more than I do right now," he said with a grin.
Rachel swooned inwardly and took a deep breath.
"Hey, guys…," Quinn said excitedly, coming back down the stairs, "Brittany just texted...Santana is awake!"
Brittany had dozed off with her head on the side of Santana's bed. She felt a soft touch run across her forehead, pushing her bangs off to the side of her face. She opened her eyes slowly and lifted her fatigued head, seeing Santana's dark brown eyes looking back at her.
"Hi," the tall blonde greeted her with a huge smile.
"You're still here? I told you to go home and rest."
"I will…I didn't want you to be alone," Brittany adjusted herself in her chair, "Your mom went down to the cafeteria to eat with your dad. I'll leave when they get back, ok?"
"Is there any water?" the brunette asked.
"Yeah, there's some right here." Brittany poured some clear liquid into a beige, plastic hospital cup and removed the paper from a nearby straw, placing it in the cup and bringing it up to Santana's dry lips. "It's not very cold…but it's wet, at least," she smiled.
Santana leaned forward slightly and took a couple of small sips, letting the water ease down her sore throat. Her head was starting to feel a little clearer now than when she first woke from the sedation earlier in the day. She noticed Brittany staring at her.
"I look like a hot damn mess, huh?" she asked, knowing she had no hairstyle or make-up to hide behind.
"I think you look beautiful," the blonde smiled.
Santana blushed under the sentiment as she returned the smile.
"I was scared, Tan," Brittany confessed.
Her blue eyes looked so tired to Santana. "Come lay by me…," she moved over slightly in her bed, patting the empty space.
The tall blonde slid onto the hospital bed and wrapped her long arms around the brunette, careful not to pull any of Santana's remaining wires. The young Latina pulled her close and kissed her forehead. The two of them laid together quietly for several minutes.
"I love you, Brittany."
"I love you too, Santana."
Another moment of silence passed then Santana squeezed her love tightly and said softly, "Britt…I'm very sorry."
"For what?" the tall blonde looked up at her with confusion in her tired blue eyes.
"For all the time we've lost…that we could have been together."
"Don't apologize…we're together now," Brittany nuzzled into Santana, kissing her on the neck.
"Yeah, but…I should have been more open about my feelings for you…I just…," her voice trailed off.
"Shhh…stop," Brittany put a long finger up to Santana's lips then she kissed her on the cheek and whispered, "I love you so much…you're worth waiting for."
Santana closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath, feeling unsure as to why she was fortunate enough to have Brittany in her life, as tears began to trail down her pale face.
"Why are you crying?" the blonde asked her.
"How do you see past all the terrible things about me?"
"Because I see inside you…and I know that in there," Brittany emphasized my placing her finger tips over the center of Santana's chest, "…is an amazingsoul."
Santana beamed, leaning in to kiss Brittany deeply.
The tall blonde broke the kiss and sat up abruptly, "Tan, I need to tell you something though."
"Um, ok…," the brunette said nervously, pushing the button on the sidebar to raise the hospital bed.
"I don't want you to think I've been hiding this from you, it's just that…."
Santana interrupted, "You're scaring me, Brittany…just say whatever it is."
Brittany drew in a shaky breath, "We had to tell them about Karofsky."
The Latina's eyes instantly grew large with fear. "What?"
"We had to…I'm so sorry," Brittany tried to explain, "The hospital knew something happened, Santana…we just filled in the gaps."
"My parents know?"
"Yes," Brittany put a calming hand on the brunette's arm, "And…the police."
"Oh god."
"They're going to help you, Santana…you have to trust them."
"I don't want to talk about it to anyone, Britt."
"But, Ms. Pillsbury said…."
The Latina cut her off, "She knows too?"
"And…Mr. Shuester…and Principal Figgins."
"I'm so embarrassed!"
"Don't be…it's not your fault…Karofsky needs to pay for what he did to you."
"Does anyone in Glee Club know?" she asked softly, her eyes downcast.
The tall blonde hesitated, "The police are talking to everyone."
"I'll never be able to show my face at school again."
"Yes, you will, Santana," Brittany lifted the Latina's chin, "You are strong…you will get through this, ok?"
The raven-haired beauty looked at her quietly for a moment then acquiesced, "Ok."
Brittany leaned back against Santana, wrapping her arm around her again, "And I'll be right there with you."
There was a knock on the door to Santana's hospital room before it opened and Quinn Fabray walked in followed closely by Rachel Berry.
"Good morning," the blonde former head Cheerio said cheerfully, "This is for you." Quinn handed Santana a plain, brown paper sack.
Santana smiled and opened the sack as excited as a kid on her birthday. "A bagel!" she announced, taking the round object out of the sack, "Oh man…this is carbo-licious goodness."
"Your mom said you were eating…so we brought your favorite."
"Thank you! I'm starving too…do you know what kind of crap they serve up in here?"
Quinn leaned over and kissed the Latina on the cheek, "I'm glad to see you are feeling better."
Rachel stepped around the other side of the bed and hugged Santana. "Everyone sends their love."
"Wait, did you two come together?"
The shorter brunette looked at the blonde then they both looked at Santana, "Yes…we're friends." They both smiled.
"Wow, ok…I guess hell froze over while I was out."
They all laughed.
There was another knock on the door, and two men in suits entered. "Hello, we're sorry to interrupt," the shorter man pulled a black leather-bound badge out of his pocket and said, "I'm Detective Sheldon, and this is Detective Mills."
Santana paused mid-bite, looking up at Quinn.
"How are you feeling, Miss Lopez?" the detective asked her. Not getting a response, he said, "Young ladies, would you mind if we have a moment to speak to your friend in private?"'
"No! They can stay," Santana said, panic in her dark brown eyes. She grabbed for Quinn's hand, "Please don't leave me."
"May we ask you a few questions about the night of your prom?"
"Shouldn't you wait until her parents are present?" Rachel asked them.
"We spoke with your mother this morning, I guess we beat her here," the detective said, "If we could just get a few details from you, Santana…is it ok if I call you Santana?"
"That's my name."
"Right," Detective Sheldon smiled awkwardly, "We're trying to find a few missing details, and the quicker we can do that, the quicker we can move forward."
Rachel looked at the young Latina, "Should I leave?"
Santana softened slightly, "No…you can stay too." Rachel patted her friend on the shoulder in support.
"Santana, you attended your prom with David Karofsky?" the shorter detective asked, pulling out a small black notepad and a pen.
"Yes."
"Had the two of you been dating prior to that night?"
"Yes…for a few weeks."
"Were you intimate with him?"
"Hey!" Quinn interjected.
Detective Sheldon looked at the girls. A moment of tense silence passed before Santana answered, "No."
Quinn and Rachel unintentionally flinched with surprise, their heads tilting to look at the brunette.
"No…I never even kissed him," she added with emphasis.
"Did you plan to meet him at the football stadium the night of prom?"
"No, I accidentally ran into him there."
"What were you doing there then?"
She paused. "Smoking."
"Why did you go there to smoke?"
"I went there, because I knew my ex-boyfriend hid cigarettes under the snack booth."
"Were you drinking too?"
"No, I wasn't."
"Santana…we need you to be truthful if you were."
Both girls looked at her.
"I swear! Dave was drinking under the bleachers…but I had nothing to drink."
"Is that were you found him?"
"Yes, I just bumped into him there…he was already there and had found Puck's bottle of scotch."
"Who is Puck?"
"My ex."
"So…Puck…keeps liquor and cigarettes under the bleachers?"
All three girls nodded.
"I bet he's a fun date," Detective Mills added from the corner of the room.
"Leave Puck out of this," Quinn defended.
"Why? Did you date him too?" Detective Mills smiled.
"Not exactly…," the blonde former cheerleader hesitated under the interrogating gaze of the detectives, "I had a baby with him."
"What is your name?" Detective Sheldon asked.
"Quinn Fabray."
She watched him write her name in his notebook. "It's two Ns, actually."
He added an N then said, "your name has been mentioned in the course of our investigation. We'll need to speak with you separately…soon, ok?"
He looked at Rachel, "What is your name?"
"Rachel…Berry…with an e."
"Did you date this Puck too?" Detective Sheldon asked jokingly with a sarcastic smile.
"Umm…yes, actually," she shifted awkwardly, flattening the collar on her shirt, "…briefly."
"I'm sorry…what does Puck have to do with any of this? We should be focused on that monster, Karofsky," Quinn's temper was raised.
Detective Sheldon looked over at Detective Mills. "Santana, can you tell us what happened under the bleachers that night?"
Santana grabbed Quinn's hand for support. "Like I said, he was drinking. He got very angry at me…and he got very violent."
"What made him so angry?"
"Just some stuff that we said."
"Stuff? Were you two fighting?"
"Sort of, I guess."
"Would you elaborate please?"
She paused and took a deep breath, "Dave Karofsky is gay."
Quinn and Rachel looked at Santana in shock. The detective made a note in his book. "Go on…," he instructed.
"I said some things that set him off," she said guardedly, "He's very sensitive about it."
"About being gay?"
Santana nodded. "Only a few people know. He doesn't want it to get out."
"It's a little late for that," Detective Mills stated the obvious.
"If you knew he was gay then why were you dating him?" the shorter detective asked.
Santana's mind started racing with how much information to reveal. "I…was…um, covering for him."
"I see…," Detective Sheldon wrote in his notebook, "so he was angry and became violent…what happened next?"
"He attacked me."
"Can you be more specific?" he asked cautiously.
All eyes were on the young Latina, making her visibly nervous.
"He pushed me against a wall and choked me," she recalled, "then somehow…we ended up on the ground…he was on top of me." She shuddered at the returning memories. Quinn and Rachel both moved closer to the brunette beauty, holding each of her hands tightly in solidarity. "He punched me in the head, I remember that."
"What else, Santana…?" the officer prodded gently.
"He held me down and raped me." Tears streamed down her face.
"You told us he was gay a few minutes ago," the Detective Mills pointed out, "So now I'm confused."
Rachel pulled a tissue from the box next to Santana's hospital bed and handed it to the taller brunette.
"I'm telling you what happened," she said defensively. "He told me he was going to prove he wasn't and then he…." She covered her face with her hands as the vision of Karofsky on top of her flashed in her memory.
"Who left the bleachers first?"
"When he finished, he just got up and left…like it was nothing," she said sadly.
"And what did you do?"
"Cried."
Detective Sheldon gave her a sympathetic look, "Then?"
"I went to find my friend," Santana's thoughts went to Brittany. If only I had gone to prom as her date…none of this would have even happened.
"That would be Brittany…," Detective Sheldon flipped back a couple of pages in his notebook, "Pierce?"
"Yes…how did you know that?" Santana was confused.
"We spoke with Ms. Pierce," he responded, "So after you left the stadium, you met up with her…and then?"
"We…Brittany and I…took her home," Quinn added.
"Did you tell anyone what happened to you, Santana?"
"I only told Brittany and Quinn that night."
"Why didn't you report this to the police?"
"They tried to get me to…but I…just…." The Latina looked down.
"Look, she was hurt and she was in shock that night," Quinn defended, "My guess is you've already seen her medical records…that should answer your questions right there. Anything else that beast has to say is complete shit!"
The two detectives stared at the trio in silence until Detective Sheldon cleared his throat and asked Rachel, "And you weren't with them that night?"
"No. I left the school before any of them."
"Ok, girls…thank you for your time," Detective Sheldon pulled a white business card from his pocket and set it down on the hospital table, "Santana, if you think of other details that would be helpful to our investigation then please call that number and ask for Detective Mills or myself."
The three girls nodded as the two suit-clad men left the room.
Santana rolled the top of the brown paper bag that still sat in her lap and moved it to the hospital table that crossed over her bed, "I'm not very hungry now."
Quinn rubbed the back of Santana's head affectionately, "I'm sorry, sweetie."
As the bell to begin the period rang, Will Shuester walked through the doorway leading from his side office into the choir room, "Alright, class…quiet down please. Everyone take a seat."
The mood among the Glee Club members was upbeat. Finn was seated in the second row, holding Rachel Berry's hand. Artie was laughing with Tina and Mike Chang. Puck was flexing his arm muscles to Lauren's delight.
Quinn was reading in the back row and looked up briefly as Mr. Shuester entered.
"Brittany, what's the latest with Santana?" he asked the tall blonde.
"She was released earlier today…yay," she gave a celebratory fist pump in the air. A round of applause was shared throughout the group.
"That is wonderful news!" he said, "Ok everybody, I know you all are glad it's Friday, but I want to remind you that we leave for New York in twelve days…so that means no time off this weekend."
A mixture of excitement and groans were heard from the Glee Club members.
"I want to see you guys back up here at 10:00 sharp in the morning, ok?" he instructed, "Oh, and I'm still missing consent forms from a couple of you…please remember to bring those with you tomorrow. We'll meet in the auditorium…don't be late."
There was a knock on the door behind him. "William…I need to speak with you immediately," Principal Figgins said.
"Class, excuse me…," Will added as he passed Brad, seated at the piano, "Please start warm-ups."
Will stepped into the hallway, closing the door behind him.
"What's going on?" he asked the principal.
"The Lima PD have an arrest warrant for David Karofsky."
Will sighed deeply. "I know that will be a relief for Santana and her family."
"I told them he was a no-show at school today."
"Did they go to his house?"
"He was gone, Will."
"Gone?"
"Fled."
Will was shocked at this news. "I, um…what…did his father say?"
"Gone too, Will…David and his parents."
"That's crazy," Will shook his head in disbelief, "Have you spoken with Santana's parents?"
"I phoned them just now. They are understandably frustrated, but I got the impression they are eager for Santana to fall back into her normal routine."
"Are they going to let her go with us to Nationals."
"I think so, yes," Figgins responded, "I trust that you will reassure them you'll watch over her closely?"
"Of course," Will extended his hand to the gentle principal as a confirmation of safekeeping, "Thank you for letting me know."
Principal Figgins smiled and shook Will's hand.
"Knock Knock…," Brittany announced as she pushed open Santana's cracked bedroom door. She beamed when she saw Santana sitting up on her bed, legs crossed at the ankles, reading a book.
"Hey there…come on in," the dark-haired beauty told her.
"How happy are you to be home?" she asked, closing the bedroom door behind her.
"Totally happy…I think a week in the hospital is plenty," the Latina smiled, moving over on the bed so the tall blonde could join her.
"I'm happy too," Brittany told her, giving her a kiss on the lips.
"I could get used to that kind of greeting."
The young blonde grinned widely, "So do you think you'll feel up to going to Glee rehearsal in the morning?"
Santana sighed. "I don't know, Britt." She had been uneasy about the impending reunion ever since Brittany mentioned it earlier on the phone.
Brittany frowned. "You've seemed stronger the last couple of days."
"Yeah, I feel pretty decent…I'm just…worried," her voice trailed off.
"About Glee Club?"
"About seeing everybody again…now that they…know about what happened."
"Oh sweetie, no…you don't have anything to be worried about…everyone is so excited to see you again. It hasn't been the same without you."
"They don't think anything…bad…about me?"
"Bad? Why would they?" Brittany pulled her love close to her, "You have shown all of us how courageous you are. We're so proud of you."
"Thank you," Santana lean into the blonde and kissed her deeply.
Brittany broke the contact first, drawing in a settling breath and smiling, "So…you'll come?"
"Sure." Santana rolled over on top of the blue-eyed blonde, kissing her again, even more passionately, allowing her tongue to explore Brittany's tongue as Brittany ran her hands down the brunette's sides and rested them on her shapely backside. Santana broke the kiss first this time, her heart pounding wildly in her chest. "I need to work on my stamina," she laughed.
Brittany returned the laugh, "I don't mind helping with that." She pulled the Latina into another long kiss before releasing her hold on the brunette's dark locks and placing her cheek against Santana's cheek.
Santana laid on top of Brittany, relishing the physical contact for several minutes and listening to the sound of the blonde's breathing.
The silence was broken by a sharp rap on the door. "Girls?" Mrs. Lopez said, causing a very flustered Santana to quickly push away from Brittany as she sat up and pulled a small throw pillow into her lap just as the door opened.
"Dinner will be ready shortly," Santana's mother said, "Brittany, will you be joining us?"
Brittany looked over at Santana who folded her arms and smiled awkwardly at the blonde. "Um, I guess…," Brittany replied.
"Come down soon, girls," the older Latina said as she pulled the door closed.
Several seconds of silence hung in the bedroom before the tall blonde turned to the brunette and said, "Ok…what was that about?"
"What?"
"That…." She motioned toward Santana and the pillow.
The brunette looked at her with confusion.
"I'm sorry…but am I missing something?" Brittany pulled her long legs up underneath her to sit crisscrossed on the bed. "I thought we were together now?"
"We are…but…that's my mother," the young Latina defended.
"Santana, I'm gonna go," Brittany stood and slipped on her shoes, moving toward the door.
"Wait…," the brunette was right behind her, grabbing the blonde's long arm, "stop…why are you leaving?"
"Seriously?"
"I don't understand why you're upset."
Brittany drew in a deep calming breath then slowly released it, "Maybe I'm overreacting, but I'm just tired of hiding, Tan."
Santana looked down.
The tall blonde took each of Santana's hands in each of hers, "Honey, I'm not trying to push you…I'm really not…I just can't live in secrecy. I'm sorry." Brittany leaned in and kissed Santana softly on the lips then turned and left.
Santana lay back down on the bed and pulled her knees to her chest, burying her face in her pillow, as a soft sob broke free.
"Here, Mr. Shue," Finn handed a blue sheet of paper to Will before sitting down next to Rachel in the front row of the McKinley High auditorium.
Will looked the form over before slipping it inside his red notebook, "Excellent, Finn…thank you!" He put a check mark next to Finn Hudson on his "New Directions – Nationals" list then said, "Sam, I still need your form…did you bring it with you?"
Sam stood up and walked over to Will, and said softly, "Mr. Shue…I'm still not sure about the funds for the trip."
Will smiled at the handsome blond teen, "Sam…I already told you…the plane tickets and hotel are covered…just bring whatever you can, and I'll make sure you don't go hungry, ok?"
Sam swallowed hard at the generosity of his Glee director, "Thanks, Mr. Shue."
"Great…now make sure you bring your signed form next time," he reminded, giving Sam a supportive pat on the shoulder.
"Here's mine, Mr. Shue," a deep, raspy voice said from behind him.
Will turned around. "Santana!" he exclaimed, giving her a big hug, "I was hoping you'd join us today."
Her classmates stood and gathered around the dark-haired beauty, each hugging her tightly.
"You look great, Santana," Quinn told her, putting her arm around the brunette's broad shoulders.
"I think you look…fabulous," Kurt added with a dramatic gesture.
"Thank you," she smiled at them, happy to be among her Glee family.
The Latina saw Brittany out of the corner of her eye, chatting with Artie of all people. She turned to give a small wave, but the blonde turned the other direction. Santana's heart sunk.
"Well, this is fantastic," Will moved to stand in front of the auditorium seats, "The whole gang is back together again."
The Glee Club applauded, and everyone smiled except Brittany…and Santana, who could only look longingly at the sad blonde.
"Ok, guys…I think we'll start trying to choreograph the group number first today."
"Mr. Shue?" Santana spoke up.
"Yes, Santana?"
"If you don't mind, I have something important."
"Ok..sure," Will responded, slightly confused.
The brunette beauty moved to stand next to him, facing her peers. "I know I'm sort of easing back into this…so if you all will indulge me…I brought a song with me that's actually for our last assignment I missed while I was out."
"Oh, ok…that's great, Santana…we'd love to hear it," Will encouraged the clearly nervous teen.
Santana pulled a piece of folded sheet music from the pocket of her fitted, fleece jacket, trying to smooth it out as best she could before handing it to Brad who was silently seated at the nearby piano. He looked over it a moment then slid over slightly, patting the empty space next to him.
She sat down on the piano bench, crossing her legs at the knee, her hands shaking, and said, "Somebody recently called me courageous…but...that's not accurate."
The faces of the Glee Club members each had a look of puzzlement on them as they stared at the mysterious Latina. Brittany looked most bewildered, tensely tucking her long hair behind both ears.
"I've been living in fear…for too long…denying my true self to everyone, and…I don't want to live like that any longer…because…that's not really living…," the brunette apprehensively rambled. Her thoughts had seemed so much clearer in her head earlier that morning.
She looked around the audience of her classmates…her friends…and swallowed hard to bring back some moisture to her dry mouth then cautiously revealed, "I'm gay."
Several heads reflectively turned to look at those Glee members seated around them, everyone's eyes wide in response to her statement. Santana didn't wait for verbal reactions. "So, that said…this song is for my girlfriend," Santana boldly stated as all heads then turned toward Brittany. The elated blonde smiled lovingly.
Santana nudged Brad who started playing the soft chords of Billy Joel's, "She's Got A Way," as the brunette's sultry but quivering voice sang:
She's got a way about her
I don't know what it is
But I know that I can't live without her
She's got a way of pleasin'
I don't know what it is
But there doesn't have to be a reason anyway…
She's got a smile that heals me
I don't know why it is
But I have to laugh when she reveals me
She's got a way of talkin'
I don't know why it is
But it lifts me up when we are walkin' anywhere…
She comes to me when I'm feelin' down
Inspires me without a sound
She touches me
and I get turned around…
She's got a way of showin'
How I make her feel
And I find the strength to keep on goin'
She's got a light around her
And ev'rywhere she goes
A million dreams of love surround her
ev'rywhere…
She comes to me when I'm feelin' down
Inspires me without a sound
She touches me, I get turned around…
She's got a smile that heals me
I don't know why it is
But I have to laugh when she reveals me
She's got a way about her
I don't know what it is
But I know that I can't live without her anyway, hey…
The piano notes faded softly and the auditorium erupted in supportive applause as Santana's heartfelt ballad ended. She wiped at the tears falling from her dark-brown eyes. Brad gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. Before she finished standing, Brittany ran up to her and enveloped her in a hug.
"You are courageous," she whispered in Santana's ear, "And I love you so much."
Santana pulled back from the tight embrace and said, "I meant every word of that song," then she kissed the tall blonde firmly on the lips, oblivious to anyone else in the auditorium.
There was more bolstering applause from the Glee Club which pulled Santana back into the reality of her surroundings. She blushed then smiled in relief, realizing that none of her friends appeared particularly surprised or judgmental toward her.
"Thank you, Santana," Will approached her, giving her a hug, "I think you embodied our Emotions lesson…that was wonderful and we're so glad you are back with us…you totally schooled these guys." He grinned widely, turning to the other teens, "Right?"
"Totally, Mr. Shue," Puck agreed and winked at Santana.
"Group hug!" Kurt encouraged, tears of solidarity in his eyes. They all moved toward Brittany and Santana in a giant hug.
"Awesome, you guys," Will said, proud of his students, "Ok, everyone up on stage…let's get to work."