Author's note:I do apologize for the delay in updating, but I thank you for your patience during the holiday season. I had a great holiday and a lovely break from writing (except for my Christmas fic I wrote that y'all should check out if you get an extra moment…you never know, perhaps that will expand into the next continued story after HSHM is completed). I hope each of you had wonderful celebrations with your friends and families. Happy New Year to each of you! KB
Her Smile Heals Me (chapter 20)
Have you ever fed a lover with just your hands?
Closed your eyes and trusted, just trusted.
Have you ever thrown a fist full of glitter in the air?
Have you ever looked fear in the face,
And said, I just don't care?
Quinn led Cate by the hand through her opened bedroom door, closing it shut as soon as they were inside and backing up against it, pulling the older girl with her and kissing her deeply.
Without saying a word, Quinn unbuttoned Cate's jeans, sliding her hands around the back of them and down inside the denim to squeeze both of Cate's butt cheeks and pulling her further into her.
"I want you so much right now," Quinn said in a deep, breathy voice.
Everything about this night had set Quinn's inner fire ablaze. Cate had helped her find a type of pleasure she had never felt before and certainly never shared with anyone before tonight. Quinn found the vulnerability she experienced at the hands of Cate to be exhilarating, and now, she couldn't get enough of it.
"Make me cum again, Cate…please."
Cate pulled away from their deep, wet kiss…sucking on Quinn's tongue until it tugged away from her mouth from the increased distance…and smiled down at the young blonde in her arms.
The taller girl lowered herself down the length of Quinn's perfectly shaped body, her hands trailing down the cotton of Quinn's sundress, until she was kneeling before the teen.
Cate reached under the fabric and pulled down Quinn's cotton panties, smiling back up at her when she felt that they were already soaked with Quinn's wetness, still smelling like sex from earlier in the night.
The blonde stepped out of the underwear once she felt it around her ankles, still fully clothed in her dress and her wedge heels.
Without saying a word, Cate lifted Quinn's left leg over her right shoulder, disappearing from Quinn's sight under the skirt of her dress.
The next thing Quinn felt was Cate's tongue as she licked the length of Quinn's vulva, instantly making her knees so nimble she thought she might drop. The young blonde reached out with both hands to quickly brace herself on Cate's shoulders.
"Oh god," Quinn said even more breathy than she sounded before.
She could feel Cate's grasp on her hips tighten, pulling her further into her oral manipulations. All Quinn could do was hold onto her lover below her with one hand and grip the door frame behind her to steady her stance.
Sparks of electricity were firing up through Quinn's abdomen, making her knees even weaker, as Cate focused her attention on the teen's throbbing clit. The warmth of Cate's mouth mixed with the warmth from Quinn's center was enough to make her defenseless, but when the blonde felt Cate's tongue penetrate her inner core, every thought from her mind evaporated instantly.
"Oh fuck," Quinn said, barely above a whisper.
Quinn did a quick intake of air followed by a loud moan as she squeezed Cate's shoulder harder, digging in her fingernails.
Cate couldn't say anything, but she internally applauded herself with a smile and picked up her pace, licking and sucking and penetrating until Quinn's moans became quicker and higher-pitched.
The brunette wrapped her arms fully around Quinn's backside, helping her balance and offsetting some of her weight, anticipating her inability to hold herself up much longer, just as the intensity of her orgasm shook her entire being. The blonde rested her head back against the doorframe as the rest of her body went rigid in full ecstasy, her body quivering from deep within her.
"Ohhhhhhhh," was all Quinn was able to verbalize until her body stilled.
Cate pulled her head out from under Quinn's skirt, enjoying a burst of much-needed oxygen, and lowered the blonde down to the floor with her, Quinn molding into Cate's embrace like soft clay and resting her head on her shoulder as they kneeled together on Quinn's bedroom floor.
It's only half past the point of no return,
The tip of the iceberg, the sun before the burn.
The thunder before the lightning, the breath before the phrase,
Have you ever felt this way?
Santana closed the guest room door quietly, seeing in the moonlight streaming from the window that Brittany was tucked under the covers. Assuming she was already asleep, she stopped at the foot of the bed and took off her black sweatpants, leaving on just her tank top and cotton panties. She then climbed into bed next to her girlfriend, spooning up behind her long, muscular frame and wrapping her left arm underneath Brittany's arm.
Brittany squeezed Santana's hand in hers, pulling her arm up and kissing her fingers that were intertwined with her own.
"I thought you were asleep?" Santana whispered.
Brittany turned toward her slightly, replying, "Not yet…I was just thinking."
"About…?"
"You."
"What about me?" Santana was curious.
"How proud I am of you…how hard you pushed yourself tonight."
"I want to be stronger, Britt…I want my life back."
"I'm glad…especially glad you trusted me."
"I've always trusted you…it's me I don't trust," Santana confessed.
"Hey…we're in this together…forever…okay?"
"I love you so much," the Latina confirmed, squeezing Brittany firmly.
"I know," Brittany responded light-heartedly, with a proud edge to her voice.
"You do, huh?" Santana laughed, lightly tickling Brittany around her mid-section.
"Uhuh…," Brittany giggled as her body involuntarily reacted to being tickled, only making Santana continue. "Stop…please!"
"What are you going to do to make me?" Santana playfully challenged, tickling her even harder, causing Brittany's limbs to wildly react.
"Wait…nooo…Tan, stop!" Brittany laughed uncontrollably before pulling her hands to her face, "No, seriously…stop…oww!"
"Oh god, did I hurt you?" Santana said, concerned, leaning over Brittany.
"Ha! No…but you stopped," Brittany claimed victory as she grabbed Santana and rolled her over onto her back, straddling her hips.
"Ok, no fair…," Santana laughed at the blonde above her as she started tickling her back, causing Santana to now involuntarily flail, "…you play dirty, Brittany Pierce!"
"That's right!" Brittany leaned down and kissed Santana passionately, breaking to say, "I learned from the best."
"You are the best, babe…," Santana reached up and pulled Brittany back down to meet her mouth.
Have you ever hated yourself for staring at the phone?
Your whole life waiting on the ring to prove you're not alone.
Have you ever been touched so gently you had to cry?
Have you ever invited a stranger to come inside?
Quinn shut the door behind her as she stepped from the interior bathroom into her bedroom, smiling widely when she saw Cate sitting on her bed, dressed only in her boxer briefs and tank top, leaning back against the headboard with her feet crossed at the ankles, waiting patiently.
"Did I keep you waiting too long?" Quinn asked, having washed the make-up from her beautiful face and changed into a short, light-blue gown, as she walked toward the bed and reached to turn out the bedside lamp.
"Not at all…," Cate replied, making room for Quinn who crawled into the bed next to her.
The young blonde settled into the older girl's arms, pulling her down into a long kiss, smelling her own scent lingering on Cate's face even though Quinn knew she had taken a moment to wash up.
"Thank you again for tonight…," Quinn told her, "…it's the most romantic thing anybody has ever done for me."
"You don't have to thank me, Quinn…," Cate assured her, kissing her softly down her neck, "…I would give you all the stars if I could."
"Cate?"
"Hmm?"
"I think I might be in love with you," Quinn surmised innocently.
Cate chuckled at the slight awkwardness of Quinn's uncertainty, "Why do you say it that way?"
"I don't know…," Quinn chuckled too, raising up her chin as Cate kissed the front of her neck around to the other side then back up behind her ear, "…because I suppose I've never truly experienced love…romantic love anyway…I'm not sure I'd recognize it."
"You never felt love for any of the boys you've dated?"
"No…I don't think I have…," Quinn contemplated internally how she felt being with Finn or Puck or Sam, "…this feels different."
"How so?" Cate asked, continuing to gently kiss and fondle the blonde teen as they spoke.
"Because…every moment I'm with you makes me happy…and when I'm not with you…even thoughts of you make me happy."
"I'm glad," Cate smiled, kissing her on her lips, "I feel the same way about you."
"So…isn't that love?"
Cate smiled again at her, unsure of how to respond. Her head told her not to rush anything…and certainly not to confuse hormones with love…but her heart was completely in love with the young girl in her arms.
There was a moment of silence that hung in the air before Quinn added softly, "...being this happy though…it scares me too."
Ahh, there it is, Cate thought. She took a deep breath, not sure she wanted to know Quinn's answer, but asked anyway, "Is it because you're afraid that this means you're gay?"
"Actually, no…I don't even really care about that part," Quinn said confidently, surprising herself that she felt that way.
The brunette was confused, searching for clarity, "Well…then what's scary about letting yourself be happy?"
"I guess, because…it's so easily lost."
It's only half past the point of oblivion.
The hourglass on the table, the walk before the run,
The breath before the kiss and the fear before the flames
Have you ever felt this way?
Santana pulled Brittany's t-shirt over her head, tossing it over the side of the bed to land with all their other articles of clothing and immediately returning her hands to the blonde's broad shoulders, running her fingertips down along Brittany's side to rest on her muscular backside, gripping firmly at both cheeks.
"I've missed being with you…sooo much," Santana whispered between their kisses as Brittany lay on top of her.
"You have no idea how bad I want you right now," Brittany said breathlessly, her ache threatening her senses.
Santana kissed her hard again as she squeezed Brittany's butt, forcing the blonde's weight further into her, enjoying the feeling of their breasts pressing tightly together, their nipples rubbing together.
Brittany ran her hands through the Latina's dark locks, ending up with them on each side of her face, caressing her jawline as she pushed her tongue deeper into Santana's mouth.
The blonde pushed up to straddle Santana's hips without breaking their contact until the last possible moment, feeling the Latina tug on her lower lip with her teeth.
Brittany let out a deep laugh, telling Santana, "Naughty girl."
The brunette smiled a wicked smirk and arched her eyebrows, agreeing, "Uhuh." Her hands instantly went to Brittany's soft breasts, rolling the blonde's nipples between her thumbs and index fingers, feeling them harden and the skin around them pucker.
Brittany mimicked the sensation with her hands on Santana's ample chest, causing her hips to buck underneath Brittany's weight.
The blonde leaned all the way back down and whispered into Santana's right ear, "I'm going to make you cum…hard."
"Oh Britt…I wish I could, babe…but I can't tonight," Santana reminded her sadly.
"Oh right…the medicine," Brittany realized, giving her an unintended pout.
Santana sat up to hug Brittany, "Don't be disappointed, love…another night…soon. Tonight…I have plans for you."
Santana maneuvered out from under her, pushing Brittany down onto the mattress to lie on her stomach. The Latina spread Brittany's long legs, kneeling between them and running her finger the length of Brittany's vulva, finding her already very wet.
She leaned over the blonde and held her finger to Brittany's lips. "Is this what I do to you?" she asked in her sexiest voice.
"Yes," Brittany answered with building desperation, licking Santana's index finger, tasting her own arousal, "You make me so wet, hon."
"You need to cum…badly…don't you, babe?" Santana purred.
"Yes…please."
Santana didn't want to tease Brittany too much because she could sense her love needed intense release more than prolonged pleasure, and the Latina wasn't entirely sure how long her stamina would last under her current physical circumstances, so she lifted Brittany's hips upward, raising her butt off the mattress to where she was leaned forward on her forearms. She then stroked Brittany's wet folds, slipping her middle finger inside them and making her way immediately to Brittany's throbbing clit where she began to rub.
The brunette rubbed the side of the enlarged nub then down and back up again just the way she knew Brittany enjoyed it most. She repeated that pattern several times, enjoying the moans the blonde was making as she rotated her hips underneath Santana's manipulation.
"Ohhh yesssss…just like thaaaaat," Brittany encouraged.
Santana kept up a steady stroke, changing from her middle finger to the pad of her thumb in order to push a finger inside Brittany who paused her movement a moment to enjoy the sensation of Santana being inside her.
The Latina wrapped her right arm around the front of Brittany's waist, molding herself into the blonde's backside, adding another finger from her left hand as Brittany's hips rocked back and forth. After another minute or two, feeling that Brittany was incredibly wet, she added a third and began to pump deep inside her.
"Oh goooodddd…YES…fuck me, baby," Brittany cried out.
The familiar lovers quickly found a comfortable rhythm, Brittany rotating her hips vigorously, moving her own hand down to rub her clit to assist Santana so she could focus on that perfect spot inside her.
Santana knew the sounds Brittany was making meant she was right at the edge, ready to push herself over.
"Cum for me, babe," Santana encouraged, pressing her face against the curve of Brittany's spine, holding onto her and pumping her left hand in and out to bring her the most pleasure.
"I'm soooooo close…don't stop…please," Brittany begged, "Ohhhhhh gooooddddddd, Santannnaaa."
The blonde screamed out as she reached that perfect moment of extreme ecstasy, her body going taut in Santana's arms, enjoying every second of her orgasm as it passed through her entire body.
Brittany collapsed to the mattress below, her hand still between her legs and Santana's hand still inside her, feeling the weight of her lover relax on top of her.
The girls were at ultimate peace just laying together, breathing.
There you are, sitting in the garden
Clutching my coffee, calling me sugar
You called me sugar.
Quinn rolled Cate over onto her back, holding down her arms against the pillows under her. "I want to make you feel the way you made me feel tonight," she told the older girl, straddling her narrow hips.
"I would let you do anything you want," Cate said breathlessly, turned on by Quinn's assertiveness.
"I want this off then," Quinn told her, pulling on the fabric of Cate's tank. The brunette sat up slightly and allowed Quinn to pull the white tank over her head. The younger girl bent down to run her fingernails across Cate's ribs and down her firm abdomen, causing the brunette to react with an arch of her body and a slight giggle.
"Did that tickle?" Quinn's lips curled into a naughty grin.
Cate reached up and pulled her down into a passionate kiss, their tongues moving around each other's and in and out of their mouths.
Quinn sat back up and ran her hands over Cate's breasts. She leaned back down again and licked at each of her nipples, feeling them harden under her tongue, smiling inwardly at how much she was enjoying this as she heard Cate moan softly under her touch.
After a few minutes of kissing and fondling, Quinn sat back up and lifted her own gown over her head, leaning back to press her chest tightly against Cate's, savoring the sensation of their nipples touching, finding it very erotic.
Cate rolled so that Quinn was on her back on the bed, continuing to kiss her.
"Wait, I was supposed to be calling the shots…," Quinn joked, sounding out of breath.
"Oh sorry…habit…," Cate laughed, "…you're in charge."
"Then take these off!" Quinn tugged on Cate's black boxer briefs.
"Yes ma'am," she smiled as she removed them and tossed them over the side of the bed then she pulled on the fabric of Quinn's lacy underwear.
"Hey…I didn't say mine," Quinn slapped away Cate's hand, enjoying her role.
"Okay," Cate stopped.
"Well…actually…I want these off too," the teen amended her instructions, deciding that made sense.
"Okay," Cate smiled and pulled at them again until the panties were completely removed, dropping them over the side too.
"I'm totally ruining this, aren't I?" Quinn asked with a naïve pout.
Cate winked at her in the bright moonlight, "I think you're adorably sexy."
Quinn sat up and pushed Cate back down under her, straddling her again. "Okay, now what should I do?"
"What do you want to do?" Cate turned it back around on her. She could feel the moisture between Quinn's legs as she sat astride the older girl's pelvic bone.
"I want to taste you, Cate…," Quinn told her bluntly, her nerves flaring within her as quickly as the words left her mouth.
"You're sure about this?"
"I'm kinda nervous, can you tell?" Quinn confessed, biting at her lower lip and looking down at the girl beneath her.
"Yes…," Cate sat up and wrapped her arms tightly around Quinn, whispering in her ear, "You don't have to prove anything…you know that, right?"
Quinn suddenly felt emotionally overwhelmed, feeling the full effect of her vulnerability she'd tapped into this night. She lowered her head onto Cate's strong shoulder as her tears started to flow, hugging her closely for several minutes.
"It's ok, sweetheart…it's a lot to process," Cate assured her, rocking her gently.
Quinn pulled back, wiping at her green eyes, "I love you, Cate…I just do…I'm not sure how or why or when…but I do."
"I love you too," the brunette confirmed without any hesitation.
Have you ever wished for an endless night?
Lassoed the moon and the stars and pulled that rope tight.
Have you ever held your breath and asked yourself,
Will it ever get better than tonight?
Tonight…
Saturday, June 18, 2011
9:38 p.m.
Jordan took a long swig of beer out of the clear, Corona bottle in her hand, setting it on a nearby bar table, then placed the remaining part of her cigarette between her pierced lips, freeing her hands so she could position her pool cue.
"Six ball in the corner pocket…," she mumbled, barely discernable around the butt of the cigarette hanging, smoke escaping the corners of her mouth as she spoke.
The green and white ball popped off the back of the cue ball and went directly into the corner pocket as intended.
"Look out, Robyn…she's about to clean the table," a young blonde girl warned from a barstool.
"Yeah, yeah…I don't even know why I try to play her anymore," Robyn said to the group of girls who were gathered to the side of the pool table, rolling her eyes, "I should just give you my twenty bucks, Jordan…then sit back and enjoy my beer."
"Four in the front pocket…Fifteen in the side," Jordan announced without looking up.
"Oooo…you're done now, Rob!" the girls teased at the short, stocky girl.
Both balls went in their respective pockets fast and smoothly, to the cheers of the watchful crowd, as Jordan crushed out the end of her cigarette and cleaned the table by sinking the Eight ball.
"Thank you," Jordan smiled a wickedly playful smile, picking up the two twenty dollar bills off the side of the pool table, "Anyone need a fresh beer before I kick the rest of your asses?"
"Yeah, grab me one," a tall girl told her, handing over a five dollar bill.
Jordan started walking toward the bar as she heard Alanis Morissette's voice start playing from a jukebox in the far corner of the bar:
I'm broke but I'm happy
I'm poor but I'm kind
I'm short but I'm healthy, yeah
I'm high but I'm grounded
I'm sane but I'm overwhelmed
I'm lost but I'm hopeful, baby…
What it all comes down to
Is that everything's gonna be fine fine fine
'cause I've got one hand in my pocket
And the other one is giving a high five.
I feel drunk but I'm sober
I'm young and I'm underpaid
I'm tired but I'm working, yeah
I care but I'm restless
I'm here but I'm really gone
I'm wrong and I'm sorry, baby…
What it all comes down to
Is that everything's gonna be quite alright
'cause I've got one hand in my pocket
And the other one is flicking a cigarette…
Jordan walked up to the counter of the long bar, leaning across it near a young, dark-haired girl who was sitting quietly, staring downward, taking a last drag off the very end of a cigarette before crushing it out in the very full, plastic ashtray in front of her.
"Two Coronas," Jordan told the very hot, female bartender with a smile then looked toward the girl to her left, "You smoke more than I do."
The brunette shrugged and pulled another Marlboro Light from a white box, lighting it with a lighter that she set back down on the wood of the bar, blowing out the smoke slowly.
"You sure have been quiet tonight, Santana," Jordan asked her, concern in her voice, "What thought's going on in that pretty head of yours?"
"That the words of this song are complete shit," the Latina emptied the last of the beer in the bottle in front of her.
"How can you say that about Alanis? She's a poet," Jordan defended, motioning to the bartender to give Santana another beer while throwing another five dollar bill on top of the other two and pausing to listen to the end of the song.
I'm free but I'm focused
I'm green but I'm wise
I'm hard but I'm friendly, baby
I'm sad but I'm laughing
I'm brave but I'm chickenshit
I'm sick but I'm pretty, baby…
And what it all boils down to
Is that nobody's really got it figured out just yet
'Cause I've got one hand in my pocket
And the other one is playing the piano…
And what it all comes down to, my friends
Is that everything's just fine fine fine
'Cause I've got one hand in my pocket
And the other one is hailing a taxi cab.
"See, kid…everything's just fine fine fine," Jordan draped her arm around Santana's shoulders, singing part of the lyrics.
"Yeah right…like I said, complete fucking shit," she responded harshly, crushing out the butt of the latest cigarette.
"You gotta look at the bright side, kid…at least you're not still at some sleazy motel on the edge of town," Jordan reminded, having picked her up the day before when the young brunette called.
"Like this is any better?" Santana said sarcastically, looking over her shoulder at the run-down, lesbian bar to which Jordan and her friends took her with them.
"Hey, this place ain't sleazy…it has subtle charm…," Jordan joked with a grin, "…like me."
"I only called you because I had nowhere else to go…and I didn't want to waste anymore of my money…," Santana told her bitterly, adding somberly, "…I'm saving it…for something very important."
"Oh yeah?" Jordan took a swig of her beer, genuinely curious, "What are you saving up for?"
"Something special…for my girlfriend…," Santana felt an overwhelming sadness, adding, "…if she's still my girlfriend."
"Girlfriends are useless, if you ask me…save your money, kid!" Jordan took another long swallow of beer, motioning again to the bartender for another one, throwing another bill on the stack in payment, "Take a nice trip or something…backpack through Europe…that's what I'd do."
"That's your opinion," Santana told her, lighting another cigarette.
"Yeah, well…like they say, opinions are like assholes…everybody's got one," Jordan laughed at her own joke as Santana rolled her eyes.
"Maybe you're the poet, Jordan," the Latina said mockingly, her head feeling quite buzzed from the amount of beer she'd consumed in the last twenty-four hours.
"Maybe I am, kid…maybe I am," Jordan continued to laugh and picked up both bottles of Corona, turning and walking away.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
9:22 am
Brittany rolled over and stretched her long arms, her eyes fluttering open in the bright sunlight that streamed through the shear curtain in Quinn's guest room. She looked over to Santana's side of the bed, smiling at the Latina's naked form sleeping next to her, causing the blonde to reflect back on their night together as a deep heat instantly spread within her.
Brittany moved closer to Santana, snuggling up behind her and kissing her tenderly on her shoulder then on the exposed part of her neck where her dark hair had fallen aside, still smelling sex on her tanned skin.
As Santana started rousing from her sleep, feeling the warmth of Brittany's body next to her, she looked back over her right shoulder and said, "Good morning."
The blonde kissed her again on her shoulder, replying, "Good morning."
Santana rolled over to face Brittany, their heads within inches of each other on the same pillow, and smiled, running the back of her hand gently down Brittany's jawline and telling her, "I love waking up next to you."
The two of them lay quietly, caressing each other's exposed skin, giving each other soft, sweet kisses, looking deep into each other's eyes, so many feelings passing unspoken between them.
"You are so beautiful," Santana told Brittany, her brown eyes glossing over with emotion, as she outlined the blonde's pink lips with her index finger, "You are so much a part of me that I don't even remember me without you."
Brittany smiled a smile that only she could make…a smile that Santana had been the recipient of hundreds of times, yet she couldn't exactly describe it or what it did to her insides…a smile that somehow penetrated every fiber of her being, lifting her up, completing her…that perfect missing puzzle piece deep within her soul.
"What's greater than love?" Santana asked introspectively.
"Why?" Brittany replied with a small chuckle as she reached up and wiped away a tear that trailed down Santana's cheek.
"Cause whatever it is…that's what I feel for you…," the Latina replied.
Brittany pulled Santana closer, kissing her lovingly until they heard one of their phones buzzing against the wood of the nightstand. Santana broke the kiss, laughing slightly at the untimely interruption, reaching behind her to pick up Brittany's phone and hand it to her.
"Home," Brittany told her.
"Answer it," Santana smiled, "You don't want to cause anymore worry."
"Hello," Brittany unlocked it and put it to her ear, expecting to hear her mom's voice.
"Hi, B…," a child's voice said with enthusiasm.
"Good morning," Brittany smiled at hearing her little sister's voice.
"Remember you promised we could go to the pool today?"
"I didn't forget," she assured the child.
"Yaaay!"
"Let me get a shower then I'll come over there, ok?"
"Is Santana going with us?" she asked.
"Why don't you ask her," Brittany smiled across at her girlfriend, handing the cell phone to Santana, telling her, "It's Emily."
"Hey, Em…what's up?"
"Santana, will you go with us to the pool? Please Please Please?" Emily begged excitedly.
"Sure," Santana winked at Brittany, listening to the littlest Pierce on the other end of the phone tell her about her new purple swimsuit and matching floaties, "Uhuh…sounds pretty…ok, squirt…see you later."
Santana hit cancel and handed the phone back to Brittany. "So much for lounging in bed," she lamented good-naturedly.
"Come on, the sun will be good for you…," Brittany encouraged, "The summer's half over…we need to start enjoying it!"
Santana slid out of bed and walked over to her pile of stuff in the corner of the guest room near the closet. She slipped on some cotton shorts and pulled a white Cheer Squad t-shirt over her head then dug through the duffle bag her mom brought to her, searching for something to wear poolside.
Brittany stepped into her underwear which she found thrown across the room, laughing, "How did these get way over here?"
"I guess I got a little spirited as things heated up," Santana joked, picking up her red and white WMHS backpack and unzipping it.
"Yeah, things got heated alright," Brittany confirmed with a big grin, putting on a pair of denim cutoffs and a tank then putting her arms around Santana, trying to kiss her, but Santana suddenly pulled away.
"Wait…where's my money?" the Latina turned very serious as she walked back to the bed and dumped out the contents of her backpack, frantically fumbling through the pile, "It's gone!"
"What money?" Brittany was confused.
"The money from my mom…I had the envelope at the bottom of my bag," Santana sounded panicked, digging again inside all the zipper pockets of the backpack, "My cash…it's all gone!"
"When was the last time you saw it in there?" Brittany was attempting to remain calm since Santana was quickly becoming hysterical.
"I don't remember…I had it when I went to Jordan's house," the volume of the Latina's voice was rising with her frustration, "I need that cash, Britt…I have to have it!"
There was a knock at the guest room door. "Everything okay?"
Brittany could tell it was Quinn so she moved toward the door and opened it.
"What's wrong?" Quinn asked with Cate standing behind her.
"Somebody at that house took all my money!" Santana screamed.
Cate could see the red and white backpack in Santana's hands, knowing that's the bag she brought from Jordan's room, instantly knowing the number one suspect. "How much money was it, Santana?"
"Nearly $400," the younger brunette said, tears welling up in her dark eyes, "It's all I have."
"Honey, it's okay…," Brittany tried to soothe her, "…we'll find it."
"If you lost it in that house, San…it's probably long gone now," Quinn stated bluntly, innately shivering at the memory of the rundown house.
"Quinn, that's not helping," Brittany shot her a look, ever-concerned with Santana's mental and emotional status.
"Sorry," Quinn realized her lack of empathy, turning to Cate, "Could you call Jordan and ask her?"
"Yeah…I'm going to ask Jordan, alright!" Cate said with a biting edge to her voice, having no doubt her ex-girlfriend would know exactly what happened to that money, "Don't worry, Santana…I'll make sure you get your money back."
10:13 am
"All Rise!" an older, uniformed bailiff said in a loud, authoritative voice.
David felt the motion of the people around him as they stood well before the fact he should stand too registered with him. He pushed out his chair and finally stood from the table at which he and his defense attorney sat inside a state courtroom at the Allen County Criminal Court House in Lima, Ohio.
"The Honorable Judge Bradford presiding," the bailiff announced as a heavy-set man in his late fifties, garbed in a long, black robe entered the courtroom from a side door next to a mounted flag of the United States and of the State of Ohio and sat with a resounding thud into a high-back, leather desk chair.
"Be seated," Judge Bradford motioned with his hand, looking down at his copy of the day's case docket as everyone in the courtroom sat back down in their seats, adding toward a young, curly-haired man who was seated near the female court reporter, "Raj, call the first case please."
The young guy, pushed up on the bridge of his wire-rimmed glasses as he stood and announced, "State of Ohio versus David Karofsky."
Assistant District Attorney Eric Cole stood immediately, holding a white sheet of paper, saying to Judge Bradford, "Your Honor…we're here this morning on Mr. Lowell's Motion to Dismiss the State's charges against Mr. Karofsky…but as my office made the Court's aware of this morning…additional evidence has surfaced and we are prepared to offer up new support."
"Mr. Lowell's office has been given a copy of this new evidence, I presume?" Judge Bradford asked.
"As a matter of fact…with all due respect to the DA's office, Your Honor…I was just handed this brief a few minutes ago," Thomas Lowell pushed back his chair, next to David's, and stood to challenge ADA Cole, "I have not had time to review this with my client."
"Mr. Cole, is the DA's office prepared to give Mr. Lowell additional time to review this new evidence if the Court reschedules this Motion to Dismiss?" the judge asked.
"Judge Bradford…this motion is just another ploy by Mr. Lowell's office to derail the State's case...I think, based on the victim's blood evidence found inside Mr. Karofsky's car…this Motion to Dismiss should be denied," Eric instantly pushed for the Motion to be quashed, knowing another delay would only work against this new momentum.
The detectives' recent search of David Karofsky's car had pulled from it his Prom King crown that was covered in Santana's blood and imprinted with his finger prints. That piece of evidence along with Santana's red dress that Brittany saved from prom night, which was tattered and also covered in her blood, was breathing new life into the State's case against Karofsky.
"Your Honor," Thomas interjected, "How am I to respond to the ADA's claims if I do not even have an opportunity to discuss this information with my client…I have not even brought up our challenge of the validity of the State's search warrant that was recently served…without the presence of my client's parents."
"Your Honor…Mr. Karofsky's mother was present when the warrant was served, and this search was conducted in front of her," ADA Cole defended.
"Enough!" Judge Bradford banged his gavel several times to silence the growing tension and volume between the two attorneys.
David Karofsky flinched at the sound of wood hitting wood, and he turned to look over his left shoulder at his mother and father in the front row of the galley audience.
"Mr. Lowell…the Court will recess for 20 minutes while you show Mr. Karofsky the State's list of new evidence…please be prepared to present your Motion to Dismiss when we reconvene," Judge Bradford banged the gavel in his hand once more for emphasis before standing to step down from the bench.
The bailiff rose quickly, announcing his departure from the courtroom, "All Rise!"
"What is going on?" David's father immediately stepped to the wooden divider between the galley seats and the inner part of the courtroom, "You said this would be a slam dunk this morning."
"Calm down…let me look over this evidence brief with David," Thomas said, unshaken by the unanticipated turn of events.
"David…what blood would they have found?" his mother asked, a look of distress on her face.
David Karofsky looked down at the table where he still sat, hearing the shuffling motion and various conversations spreading throughout the courtroom as people vacated it out into the hallway.
"David?" Mrs. Karofsky prodded.
David looked up into the faces of his parents and his attorney then he looked back down at his hands without responding.
"Give us a few minutes," Thomas turned to the two bailiffs who were standing nearby, monitoring the movements of the charged criminal defendant. The uniformed men moved to the far side of the inner courtroom, both perfunctorily shifting their weapons belts on their hips as they walked away to provide David an opportunity to meet with his attorney.
The dumpy attorney stroked his graying goatee while looking over the typed-written sheet the ADA provided him. "David, take a look at this information…," Thomas instructed, "Help me with a rational explanation please."
David took the sheet from his attorney, his blue eyes weary from night after night of interrupted sleep, having been unable to concentrate or eat much for days now. He scanned the black, typed letters, trying to interpret the words on it that were broken down into blood type and percentages. Santana's name jumped off the page at him with the word VICTIM and the word RAPE and the word PROM. David's head was spinning with a flood of images from prom night, the same images that had seeped into almost every moment of his every day while locked inside his house.
"I did it," he said weakly in final defeat.
"What?" his father and his attorney said in unison.
"This is all true," David said, his eyes still downcast, handing the sheet of paper back to Thomas.
"David, no…," Mrs. Karofsky implored, "…you don't have to feel bullied by them to say that."
"I'm the bully, Mom…I attacked her."
"Son, think about what you are doing," Mr. Karofsky advised with a stern look.
"I am…I can't go on like this…I can't sit any longer and listen to all these horrible things that happened to Santana and pretend I didn't do them."
"David…just because you had sex with this girl…and it got a little out of hand…doesn't mean…," his attorney attempted to rationalize, but David cut him off…
"I didn't have sex with her…that's what I'm trying to tell you," David raised his voice, eliciting the attention of the bailiffs who straightened in guarded-stance immediately.
"We're okay," Thomas assured them with a wave of his hand then he turned back to quiet his agitated client, "David…what you are saying is going to change everything…as your attorney, I'm advising you to…."
"Just stop…stop, please…," David said, tears filling his eyes, adding softly, "I did it…I raped Santana."
3:58 pm
Cate squeezed the hand break on her bright blue motorcycle as she slowed to turn into the graveled driveway of Jordan's house, driving all the way up the long path until she was nearly to the stone steps that led up to the front door of the dilapidated structure. She parked her bike near the small, maroon truck she always traded back and forth with Jordan.
She swung her left leg over the seat to stand up, taking off her black helmet and securing it on the back of the racing bike. Her long, thin legs easily navigating each of the stone steps as she moved toward the door, running her hand through her wavy, brown hair to fluff it out from where the helmet had flattened it. She rang the doorbell twice then knocked loudly on the weathered, brown door. Turning the knob, she found it to be locked so she raised up on her toes to look in through the clear, glass panes that were set in the top portion of the door.
"I know you're in there, Jordan…open up!" she hollered, knocking loudly again before pushing the buzzer for the doorbell again, "I see the truck out here."
Finally, the door opened under the pounding knock of her balled fist.
"What do you want?" Jordan asked without opening the door fully.
"I want answers!" Cate demanded, pushing hard on the wood, easily over-powering the under-weight, shorter girl.
"What the fuck, Cate?"
"I've driven around for three hours, looking for you all over two different towns…where have you been? Off scoring weed? Pills? I came by here four times," the tall brunette told her, stepping inside the large living room and looking around the familiar nooks and hiding places she knew from previously living at the house.
"I just got here…what's your problem?"
"You're my problem… why didn't you answer when I called your cell?"
"Because I got nothing to say to you," Jordan walked over to the fireplace mantle and picked up a pack of cigarettes, pulling one out and lighting it, offering one to Cate out of courtesy.
"I don't smoke anymore," Cate told her flatly.
The older girl raised her eyebrows and pursed her pierce lips in a sarcastic smirk, taking a long drag off the cigarette, "Barbie won't let you?"
"You watch your mouth about Quinn…," Cate snapped immediately, "…and I quit months ago…not that you'd notice."
"What are you doing here, Catie? You don't belong here any longer," Jordan said, her hurt resonating with each word.
"Did you really think nobody would notice?"
"Notice what?" Jordan ran a hand through her jet black hair, the sun glimmering through the large front window and bouncing off the row of silver piercings in her ear.
"That you stole Santana's money," Cate accused with bitterness.
"What? I don't know what you're talking about." Jordan turned to walk toward the couch, but Cate grabbed her by the arm and spun her back around.
"You're a liar! And a thief. You know it…I know it…and now everyone else is gonna know it…where is that money?"
Jordan glared back at the younger girl then looked down at Cate's hand still wrapped tightly around the upper portion of her arm, stating coldly, "I said I don't know what the fuck you're talking about…now get your hand off of me before I kick your ass."
"Santana is a good person…it's bad enough that you nearly let her die in this…den of filth…," Cate retorted, motioning around her in disgust, "…then you steal the only thing she has right out from under her when she's too weak to notice."
"You're wrong."
"You're pathetic."
"Get out!" Jordan screamed, stepping up into Cate's face.
"Not without that money," the attractive brunette assured her.
"I told you I don't have it!" Jordan was losing control of herself, turning to light another cigarette.
"God, Jordan…can you not have a five-minute conversation without smoking?" Cate challenged her, fanning the renewed smoke out of her face, coughing slightly, "I don't know what I ever saw in you."
"You told me you loved me," the older girl said sadly.
"That wasn't love…that was co-dependency," Cate said soberly, "You've done nothing but cause problems for yourself…and for me…and now your actions are making a young kid suffer…how did she even end up here?"
"She called ME!" Jordan was feeling the sting of Cate's accusations, "I was doing her a favor…I was saving her money by giving her a free place to stay…I didn't make her pay for anything…so fuck you…I didn't take her money…maybe I thought about it…for like two seconds…then I put it back in her bag…that's the last time I saw it."
"She shouldn't have been here, Jordan…what were you thinking?"
"I wanted you back, ok? I wanted you to see that I was willing to help your friend…that maybe you'd come back to me." Jordan reached up and crushed out her lit cigarette in an ashtray on the mantle.
"That will NEVER happen."
"I love you so much, Cate…I don't want to lose you…it hurts too much."
"I'm with someone else now."
"She'll never love you, Catie," Jordan laughed, "Not like I do…we have a history together…I would die for you…would your precious Quinn do that? Huh?"
Cate shook her head, defeated in the fresh resurrection of their old argument, "You need to find that money…you ask everyone who passed through this house while Santana was here…you owe her that much…you owe me that much."
"We were meant to be together," Jordan yelled, ignoring any other topic, becoming lost in her desperation. The shorter girl tried to put her arms around Cate's waist, trying to force her closer.
"Stop," Cate rebuked her advances.
"I have two years invested!" Jordan shouted angrily.
"I have two years wasted," the brunette stated, now completely detached.
"FUCK YOU!" Jordan suddenly lost all control of her emotions, slugging Cate hard in the face, "You're the LIAR! You lied about everything."
Cate grabbed at her nose which was now pouring blood, "Jordan, stop!"
"No, you've lied to me since day one, haven't you?" the older girl shouted, hitting at Cate's back and shoulders as she was bent over, "You thought you were hot shit, Cate…thinking you were some fucking ROCKSTAR…seriously? You were nothing but some overindulged wannabe guitarist drug addict going in and out of rehab!"
Cate pushed Jordan off of her with all the strength she had left in her battered arms, "FUCK YOU!"
"You know why you hate me so much now, Cate Boyd?" Jordan pushed her back so hard that Cate lost her balance as she stumbled against the arm of the couch, falling backwards to the floor, "Because you are always one breath away from being just like me again."
"I will never be like you are…ever again, Jordan…that's a fact I'm very proud of."
Jordan leaned over Cate as she tried to sit back up, spitting out at her, "You will NEVER be good enough for your precious Quinn."
Cate grabbed the older girl by the upper thighs and pushed her down to the floor with her, "Don't you ever talk about her again…don't you even say her name…you miserable wretch!"
The two girls rolled around on top of each other, hitting and clawing in a tangled heap, until Jordan elbowed Cate hard in the chest, knocking the breath out of her.
As Cate clutched at her chest, wheezing, blood dripping from her reinjured nose and the brow above her right eye, Jordan stood back up and kicked her hard in the abdomen.
"I hate you, Cate Boyd…you strung me along and you know it…," Jordan screamed out at her, kicking her again and again until the younger brunette was coughing up blood, wrapping her long arms around herself as she lay in a fetal position.
The room was getting fuzzy and dark around Cate. She blacked out as she felt Jordan kick her once more while shouting, "I hate you!"
6:37 pm
"Oww," Brittany said as Santana applied aloe to the back of her neck and shoulders.
"Where'd you get so burnt, Britt?" Rachel asked her, sitting on the floor of her bedroom, typing on her laptop.
"We took Emily to the pool today," Brittany responded, holding her long, blond hair to the side while Santana rubbed in the cooling lotion to mute the intensity of her burning skin, "I thought we'd never get her out of the water."
"I tried to get you to reapply," Santana said sweetly, bending slightly to kiss Brittany gently on her red back.
"It didn't feel like I was burning at the time," Brittany defended with a half-smile.
"Your people are from Minnesota, Britt…your skin was never meant to see the heat of summer," Quinn joked with a hearty laugh.
Brittany playfully swatted at Quinn who sat on the floor with the other three girls.
"So did you guys hear that Mercedes and Sam hooked up recently?" Rachel asked, closing the top of her computer and setting it aside.
"Who told you that?" Santana asked. The Latina had settled back against the footboard of Rachel's bed, pulling Brittany with her, cuddling her gently, being careful not to put any pressure on her inflamed upper back.
"Well, Kurt mentioned that Mercedes has been dating someone, but she's been quite tight-lipped about it all…but Finn and I stopped by The Bean last week…and guess who was there, sitting very close together…none other than Mercedes and Sam," Rachel told the girls with her usual dramatic flair.
"Good for Mercedes!" Santana applauded, "Getting her some Sammy Evans."
"That doesn't upset you, does it Quinn?" Rachel grimaced, suddenly remembering Quinn's romantic connection to Sam.
Quinn rolled her eyes and snorted out a laugh, "Not at all…I'm happy for Mercedes…besides…my attention is elsewhere."
"Speaking of…where is Cate tonight?" Santana asked, pulling Brittany's hair up in a pony-tail as she sat behind her.
"I'm not sure actually…she said she had something important to take care of today, but I haven't heard from her all afternoon," Quinn explained.
"Call her and tell her to come watch the movie with us," Rachel offered.
"I would but she's not answering her phone," the former head-Cheerio stated with a look of concern on her pretty face.
"Don't worry, Quinn…maybe it died while she was out and about," Brittany offered thoughtfully.
"Yeah, maybe…she was on her bike…so it's possible," Quinn pondered, shaking off a feeling of something being wrong.
"So Q…since you talked to your mom about Cate…are you going to tell your dad?" Brittany asked her.
"Why would I?" Quinn said with a scowl, "I'd have to care what he thinks about it first, right?"
Rachel gave a sad smile to Brittany and Santana as Quinn looked down at the cell phone in her hand, checking her texts again, disappointed she didn't have a response yet from Cate.
"What about your dad, San?" Quinn asked cautiously, looking back up at her best friend.
"What about him?" she asked blankly.
"Have you talked to him?" Rachel inquired.
"No."
"Did your mom say anything to you about moving home?" Brittany asked Santana, rubbing her girlfriend's knee that was pressed snuggly around her hip.
"Not yet…why? Do you think she will?" Santana sounded unsure.
Brittany shrugged.
"Just move back here, Santana…we miss you," Rachel smiled sweetly.
"Well, that's what I'd rather…but I should double check with the dads first…I don't want to be a burden," Santana replied.
"You're no burden…in fact, I don't want to spoil the surprise, but…," Rachel pulled herself to her knees, explaining with excited hand gestures, "my dads were going to talk to you tonight about adoption."
"Adoption? Adopting who?" Santana looked as confused as Brittany and Quinn did.
Rachel pointed back at the Latina.
"Adopting me?" Santana asked.
Brittany adjusted her posture to form a complete circle with the other girls, sitting cross-legged, facing Santana, while Rachel nodded giddily.
"So like…I would be a Berry?" the taller brunette tried to clarify.
"Yes…exciting, huh?" Rachel was beside herself with enthusiasm, "Will you do it?"
Santana looked at Brittany then over at Quinn then looked down, thinking over the unanticipated proposal.
"Adoption is a really huge leap, don't you think Rachel?" Quinn asked, having dealt with all the emotions from a parent's standpoint.
"But then you wouldn't have to worry anymore about your father's reaction to you being gay and to…your…other…issues," Rachel added delicately, "…right?"
Brittany held her tongue, wanting Santana to come to her own conclusion.
"Rach…I'm honored that you guys would want me to be part of your family…really I am…I mean, I already feel like I am…in so many ways…," Santana explained, the concept still being worked out in her mind, "…but I don't want to lose my identity…you know what I mean? I'm still fighting so hard to get it back…to get me back…that just feels like too much change right now."
Brittany took Santana's hands into hers, smiling at her encouragingly. She was so proud of how far the Latina had come in the last couple of days.
"Yes, I can understand," Rachel said sadly.
"I love you guys, don't think I don't, ok?" Santana wanted to confirm, "I just don't want to hurt my mom like that…she's trying so hard."
Quinn rubbed Santana's shoulder in support.
"I do still want to live here though…I'd miss you too much if I weren't here every day to torture you," Santana leaned over and put her arms around Rachel, squeezing her tightly.
"I'd really like that," Rachel smiled broadly.
There was a knock on Rachel's bedroom door which had been ajar the entire time, and Daniel pushed on it to open it further, "Girls…is it okay to come in?"
"Hi, Dad," Rachel assured him, "We were just talking about you."
"Yes, I confess…I overheard," Daniel told them.
"I'm really sorry, Daniel…it was such a sweet offer…but…," Santana trailed off.
Daniel put up his hands to silence her fears, "No need to explain, sweetheart…she's your mom…she will always be your mom…and Trey and I completely understand that inherent devotion."
"Thank you for understanding," Santana said warmly.
"I think we had a question for you too though…," Rachel looked over at Santana who looked around at the loving faces who encircled her.
"Would it be alright to move back in, Daniel?" Santana asked hesitantly.
"Absolutely!"
Santana smiled at everyone, feeling like she was making the right choice to put herself in a place where she felt most at ease everyday…where she never had to worry about being gay or being affectionate with Brittany…where she truly felt most at home.
"But not just for the rest of the summer…can I live here through senior year?" she asked him, "I can get a job…and pay rent…maybe Burt would let me come back to the shop."
"You can live here as long as you want, Santana," Daniel guaranteed her, "But there is no way you're paying rent…you're our daughter, whether on paper or not…so this is your house and your room is your room, ok?"
Santana stood and walked over to the balding, Jewish man who was only slightly taller than she was and who looked nothing like her, and she enveloped him in a tight hug, "Thank you so much…I love you."
"I love you too, sweetheart…and I'm so glad you are doing better," he pulled back to put both hands on each side of her beautiful, Hispanic face, telling her, "Come to me when you want to talk about anything…or you need anything…please don't let it get so bad again…promise me?"
"I promise."
"I'm going to be checking on you…just like a father," he warned her with a wink.
"I hope so," she gratefully accepted her new circumstances. She wasn't sure what to expect from an interested father. The one she had been born to had such high expectations for her and her activities but offered little encouragement or affection back to her.
"So…are we ordering the pizzas now…was going to be my question?" Daniel asked cheerfully, looking down at the other girls.
"Yes! I'm starving!" Brittany volunteered with eagerness.
"Decide what you all want then come downstairs and we'll order," Daniel suggested, turning to leave the room.
"I want cheese with whole wheat crust," Rachel offered then, upon seeing the grimaces from the other girls, added, "please?"
"Yuck, Rach…you're forgetting the whole point of pizza," Brittany teased at her, the rest of the group laughing in response except for Quinn who looked down at the buzzing phone in her hand.
"Hey girls…let me take this call…it's Cate's parents," Quinn asked them, appreciative when they quieted, "Hello?"
Santana, Brittany, and Rachel watched Quinn as she listened to the voice on the other end of the phone and as her eyes filled with tears.
"Okay…I'll meet you there then…thanks for calling," Quinn said, her voice cracking and her tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Q, what happened?" Brittany asked first once Quinn ended the phone call.
"It's Cate…the police just called them…she wrecked her bike," Quinn told them what she had just been told by Cate's father, "The police said she's hurt badly…I have to get to the hospital…now."
"Come on…I'll drive," Rachel told her, linking her arm through Quinn's, as Brittany put her arm around the shorter blonde's shoulders, the four of them heading downstairs to Rachel's car.
7:12 pm
Brittany looked over at Santana in the darkness of the backseat as Rachel drove the four of them to Lima Memorial Hospital. The Latina was looking out her passenger window, staring off at the passing street lamps as they drove the neighborhood streets.
The tension was palpable inside the car, because they were all nervous for Quinn but didn't know what to say to her. Brittany didn't know Cate very well, but she liked her instantly…and the kindness and protection the older girl had shown for Santana made Brittany adore her that much more.
The blonde dancer knew Rachel must be feeling the weight of the silence hanging in the car when the petite brunette reached to turn on the radio. Brittany saw her reach over to Quinn who was seated next to her as Rachel drew back her hand from the volume knob of her radio, putting her hand on top of Quinn's and squeezing it.
Brittany looked back over at the brunette next to her and reached across the fabric-distance between them to take hold of Santana's left hand, weaving her long fingers in between Santana's shorter ones.
Rachel slowed the car to turn into the hospital parking lot, following the giant, white arrows painted on the pavement of the driveway, pointing them in the direction of the emergency entrance. Once she located an empty parking space, Rachel shut off the ignition and pulled out her key, grabbing her small purse and climbing out of the driver's side.
Santana stepped from the backseat and closed the passenger-side door behind her. She hesitated at the rear of the car as Rachel and Quinn walked quickly past her, heading toward the brightly-lit entrance.
Brittany circled from the driver side of the car, asking, "You coming?"
Santana looked up at the familiar sign that read EMERGENCY in bold red letters, remembering the last two times she passed through those double doors, she was being wheeled in on a gurney, and she swallowed hard before responding in a shaky voice, "Yeah."
Brittany knew that look on her beloved's face. She moved closer to Santana, putting her arm around her shoulders to encourage her to take a step forward. Santana sometimes seemed diminutive to Brittany when she stood like this with her, side by side.
The Latina took in a deep breath and finally forced herself to walk, but she was thankful Brittany was right beside her for support. The two of them caught up to Rachel and Quinn as they entered the lobby of the urgent care area of the hospital.
"I don't see her parents," Quinn said, looking around the various couches, benches, and chairs that were randomly scattered throughout the large, open space. Quinn had only met the Boyds once…briefly…when Cate and she had stopped by their house to pick up something Cate needed from her dad. She remembered them being more elderly than she anticipated even though she knew they were older when they adopted Cate. Quinn was also impressed with how respectful and nice they were to her during such a short visit, knowing they knew she was dating Cate.
"Should we look around?" Brittany asked.
"Q, why don't you ask someone at the front desk?" Santana suggested.
"I'll go with you," Rachel told her, sensing Quinn was masking how frightened she was at the moment, her fidgeting with her hands not missed by the small brunette.
Quinn moved toward a circular, wooden information desk, with Rachel right behind her.
"Do you want to sit down?" Brittany asked Santana.
The Latina craned her neck to look around the room again, spotting two uniformed police officers talking together at the far side of the lobby. One of them was holding a black motorcycle helmet that had a giant scuff across the side of it where the paint had been removed.
"Santana?" Brittany nudged her.
"Huh?" she said, her attention returning back to the tall blonde next to her.
"Should we sit?"
"That's Cate's helmet," she said softly, her worry now mounting too.
"What did they say?" Brittany asked as Quinn and Rachel walked up to them.
"They're with the doctor now," Rachel repeated the information they discovered from talking to the information desk.
Santana kept watching the officers as they conversed with a young man in blue scrubs. One of them was making notes on a small, black notepad as the man in scrubs spoke.
The officers finished their conversation and started walking in their direction as the girls stood near the hospital entrance. When they were nearly to them, Santana stepped in their path and said, "Excuse me."
The older of the officers replied, "Yes?" He was still holding the helmet which Quinn then spotted.
"That's Cate's helmet," she acknowledged loudly, her panic spilling out of her, "Cate Boyd…do you have any information about her?"
The officers looked at each other then back at the group of girls.
"Do you know when her parents will be available to talk to us?" he inquired.
"They're talking with the doctor," Quinn replied.
"It can wait until tomorrow then…would you give them this card and ask them to contact us first chance they have?" the younger officer asked, a sympathetic look on his face.
Rachel reached out to take the business card from his hand since she was closest to him.
"They'll want this too," the older one stated, handing over the helmet.
Quinn leaned to take it from him, seeing a large dent under the scratched paint. Tears immediately welled up in her green eyes.
"We're very sorry for your loss," the younger officer stated quietly.
"What?" Santana asked out of instant shock.
The older cop shot a look to the less-experienced one. "Just have them call that number tomorrow," he repeated as they both turned to exit the large, double doors to the outside.
Quinn stood there several seconds, processing the words she heard spoken, trying to make them signify anything but what those words typically meant. The single word loss reverberated inside her head as all the blood in her body felt like it was simultaneously throbbing through her veins yet draining out of her too. Her eyes started twitching from the brightness of the flouresent lights above them and her legs lost all their strength. She could feel herself falling as if in slow motion, and she sensed quick movement around her but was unsure which of the girls was first to break her fall.
She heard one of them say her name and another one tell her it would be okay, but their words of support were muted by the silent wailing inside her head. Quinn could hear somebody screaming "Noooooooooooo," but it was mostly overwhelmed by the deafening sound of somebody sobbing. As she sat crumbled on the cold tile of the hospital emergency room, holding a shattered motorcycle helmet to her chest, Quinn finally realized those sounds she heard were coming from deep inside her.
How fickle my heart and how woozy my eyes
I struggle to find any truth in your lies
And now my heart stumbles on things I don't know
This weakness I feel I must finally show…
Lend me your hand and we'll conquer them all
But lend me your heart and I'll just let you fall
Lend me your eyes I can change what you see
But your soul you must keep, totally free
Har har, har har, har har, har har…
In these bodies we will live, in these bodies we will die
Where you invest your love, you invest your life
In these bodies we will live, in these bodies we will die
Where you invest your love, you invest your life…
Awake my soul, awake my soul
Awake my soul
You were made to meet your maker.
Awake my soul, awake my soul
Awake my soul…
You were made to meet your maker.
You were made to meet your maker.
Author's note: The songs referenced in this chapter are Glitter In the Air by P!nk, Hand in My Pocket by Alanis Morissette, and Awake My Soul by Mumford & Sons.
Thank you again for being patient while I worked on this chapter. It turned out to be my longest chapter to date, so I hope the payoff was worth the wait. :)
Also, thank you for your votes to name Brittany's little sister. Emily won, as you saw. Hannah and Courtney were close seconds…so her official name will be Emily Hannah Pierce. It was a lot of fun to have you guys participate in the writing process with me.
Please be sure to leave a review and let me know what your thoughts are on this chapter. It was very emotional to write so I hope you are moved by it too. As always, I truly appreciate each of you taking the time out of your life to read my story. Kim