Prompt #8: When tragedy strikes, help sometimes comes from the most unlikely of places.

Character(s): Finn & Santana

Words: 1045

Date: August 22, 2012

"The man candy at the front said I'd find you asleep behind that desk," Santana said by way of a greeting.

"Well, well, look what the cat dragged kicking and screaming back to Lima." Finn stood up from behind Bur- his desk and hugged her.

"I'm so sorry about Burt." Santana kissed him lightly on the cheek. "I wanted to come for the funeral but I couldn't get time off. There's always someone younger and prettier than me waiting in the wings."

"Well I doubt that. But I've heard it can't get pretty cutthroat out there. That's why you and Kurt succeeded where most of us couldn't." Finn shrugged and his eyes flitted to his wedding picture. The look of love on Allison's face provided all the reassurance he needed that he'd made the right decision.

"Allison is about ready to pop isn't she?" Santana asked, not missing a beat.

"Any day now. It's been a good distraction. A reminder that life always moves forward." Finn offered Santana a seat before returning to his place behind the desk.

"Unlike this office." Santana said softly.

Finn looked around the small room that was the heart and soul of Hummel Lube & Tires. In the six months since Burt's death, Finn hadn't changed a single thing. He glanced at the dark wood paneled walls cluttered with pictures of Kurt as a child; Kurt & Finn as teenagers; Carole & Burt on the few short vacations they'd taken; Kurt & Blaine's wedding picture; and Finn & Allison's wedding picture. His gaze paused on the newest family portrait. It had been taken when Kurt & Blaine came home for Christmas this year, just two months before Burt passed away.

He tore his eyes away and saw the overflowing metal filing cabinet in the corner. He smiled sadly to himself. No matter how many times he'd tried to suggest transferring the files to their computer system, Burt said no. He couldn't let go of the files that represented every single customer he'd ever served. Finn sighed, that was something he understood all too well now.

"I just haven't found the right time." Finn whispered. "I'm not ready to let go. Changing his office, the one place that was truly his, feels like a final goodbye."

"I know." Santana looked at her lap and wrung her hands. She so rarely looked unsure of herself, that Finn was at a loss for words.

Eventually Santana looked up with tears shining in her eyes. "I'm in town because my abuela had a stroke."

"I'm so sorry." Finn came around the desk and sat in the chair beside her. He reached across the space between them and held her hand.

"I feel so stupid. She hasn't even spoken to me since I came out to her our senior year, but my mom told me that when she went to my abuela's apartment to get her things for the hospital, she found a pinboard filled with newspaper clippings of my performances. The thought that she was still keeping track of my accomplishments, it just, I don't know what it means. And now I may never." Santana let the tears escape. "I'm sorry. You don't need me weeping in your office. You've had your own loss to deal with."

"Santana, don't do that. We are each allowed to have our own pain." Finn replied.

Santana wiped her cheeks and gave him a watery grin. "When did you get so wise?"

"Spending the last few years with Burt." Finn answered, not taking any offense to Santana's question. He knew Burt had changed him. In just a few short years, he'd grown to be the kind of man he was proud of. He just hoped it was enough for his own children. That thought brought back all his past regrets, the ones he felt like he still needed to make amends for. "San, I owe you an apology. That's another thing Burt taught me. To admit when I've wronged someone, and I wronged you in the worst way possible. I never should have outed you in high school. I'm truly sorry."

Santana was caught off guard. She and Finn never talked about it after he sang to her in Glee club. She assumed that was the extent of his apology. Life had moved forward for her and the push he had given her, although horrific at the time, was not something she dwelled on. She had taken control of her life from that moment and did not regret the decisions she had made as a result.

"Thank you." Santana said simply. There was nothing more to be said.

"Now what are we going to do about this office?" Santana looked around, her eyebrows raised.

Finn shrugged his shoulders.

"Well you can't exactly bring your kid here and have them assume this is what an office looks like now? Unless you think living in a small town means they have to believe it's 1980." Santana laughed softly, not making light of the situation but hoping to show Finn a different perspective.

Finn gave her a lopsided grin. She immediately flashed back to high school and saw the quarterback she had slept with. Ironically, she realized he was the last guy she ever had sex with. Maybe that's why she had a soft-spot for him in spite of his hurtful behaviour later.

Finn gets momentarily lost in his own daydream. His son his sitting on his lap laughing about how dirty his hands are with grease and how Allison will be mad when they get home. Finn kisses his cheek and says it'll be fine because she's never mad when he comes home with grease on his hands. In the background he can see a picture of the three of them on the wall, smiling together during a trip to New York City. The image warms a hole in his heart that had been cold since Burt died.

"Thanks, Santana." Finn leans forward and kisses her cheek. "You're exactly what I needed."

She laughs and takes it as the compliment it was meant to be. She leaves shortly afterward with promises to stop by again before she returns to New York City.

When she steps outside, Santana flips open her phone and sends a quick text as she smiles to herself.

To Kurt: Mission accomplished. We each got a little something out of it, so thank you! xo

A/N: Thanks to GleekMom for this prompt, that encouraged us to tackle a pairing we wouldn't normally. Although clearly, I couldn't move away from Klaine entirely. Nor could I find a way to make it any shorter! Thankfully, it seems my friends also found this prompt difficult to write in 500 words. Don't forget to go read theirs also :) xoxo