Hey there! So everyone certainly had some interesting theories with that last chapter, some of which were spot on! I did find some of the other ones a bit curious, but I guess that means everyone's at least getting something out of the story!
There's a bunch of revelations in this chapter (finally Remy! I know, I know) and I hope you all enjoy them. See you at the bottom!
Chapter 28: Leave You in the Dust
"Oh Shit." Brittany breathes out as the green eyes blink at her again. She glances over her shoulder, "Quinn, go get some towels and water to clean him off, meet us at his place." She calls to her friend who nods without question, turns to lift Rachel to her feet and sprints off towards the main building with the shorter woman following behind.
"Holly, help me carry him to his condo?" Brittany asks and Holly nods and walks over to her. Blue eyes lock with green again and even though she's not surprised, Brittany still can't believe what she's seeing right now.
"Jesus, Hunter, what the hell happened to you." She mumbles to her battered half-brother before Holly and herself manage to get their arms under his armpits and carefully lift him to his feet.
He gives out a shallow groan that sounds muffled and weak. Puck leans in to try to help and notices something as Hunter's mouth gaps open.
"Holy shit, his tongue is swollen so badly it's almost taking up his entire mouth."
Brittany frowns as she glances towards Holly who wears a similar look of concern. They both take a moment to examine Hunter's hands and notice more than a few of them are severely broken.
Holly sighs, "Looks like someone doesn't want him talking or writing anytime soon."
"Who the fuck does that kind of shit? That's like some serious messed up mob crazy." Puck puts his two cents in, walking at Brittany's left holding his good hand out in case she needs any extra support.
"Obviously whoever did it is a deranged lunatic, and we should probably get everyone together to discuss some more things." Brittany says with a heavy sigh, she's panicking on the inside worrying about Santana and hoping that she's okay, but at the same time she has to put on a tough front and be a stoic, take no shit leader. It's a hard life sometimes.
"Puck," Brittany suddenly speaks up and the man glances at her in full attention, "I need you to get a hold of David and check on the status of Mike. If they can, they need to get back here as soon as possible."
Puck gives her a nod, "I'm on it Pierce." He tells her before sprinting off in the same direction that Quinn went moments ago.
As Holly and Brittany continue to slowly shuffle along with Hunter draped between them, there's nothing but the sound of feet dragging along concrete and heavy breathing from the exertion of lifting someone heavier than them.
Finally, Brittany breaks the silence, "So you sure picked a good time to come flying back in here. I hope you know that this doesn't excuse you from explaining yourself. And Quinn better not think that I'm just going to get over it."
There's a pause before Holly speaks up, "We know that Brittany, but we promise you that when we tell you what's going on you will understand why we had to leave, and why we were gone as long as we were."
"You'd better hope so, I'm so sick of lying, manipulative deceivers."
Neither one of them say another word the whole walk to Hunter's condo. Quinn, Rachel and Sugar meet them there as Quinn spreads out all of the bandages and cleaning tools she could find on the bed before Brittany and Holly ease Hunter into a sitting position.
Holly keeps him steady as Brittany takes a step in front of him and squats down so they're more at eye level, "I still think you're a fucker for what you did Hunter, and I have no doubt that whatever was done to you was probably deserved. If I find out that you have anything to do with putting Santana in danger, I won't hesitate to do it to you again." She tells him sternly, enjoying the way she can see the faint flicker of fear flash in his eyes momentarily.
She sighs, "But still, you're my brother and even if you've never been a very good one, I'm not one to just kick family to the side," she then tells him before pointing a finger at him, "but you better be able to fix whatever you've done, and Santana better be okay."
It takes a few moments but Hunter makes a sound of agreement and his head moves in the slightest indication that he understands and concedes to Brittany's words. She nods back at him and turns to Quinn, Holly, Rachel and Sugar.
Her eyes settle on the taller blonde, "Holly I'm not ready to talk to you yet so since you were once so good at being a mother figure…or at least pretending to be, you can help Rachel here clean and bandage Hunter up. Sugar can keep an eye on him afterwards. Right now, I need to talk to Quinn."
################
"You."
Santana says the word while her hands are shaking at her side. Her fingers clenched into fists so tightly her dull nails dig into her palms. The man across the room that she's staring at and channeling all this anger towards squints his eyes at her.
He appears to be somewhere between confused and nervous, and it's not really that uncommon of an occurrence for him to be in while in Santana's presence.
Raising a hand he gives a little wave, "Uh hey Santana." And upon watching Santana's nostrils flare at his words he swallows and adds, "I'm really sorry about all this…boss."
Before anyone knows what's happening or they can even think of stopping her, Santana rushes forward and slaps Finn across the face.
"How could you? We trusted you! Brought you into our family and looked after you and you betray us for this psycho? Why Finn, why dammit?" She yells at him, raising her hand to slap him again before she's quickly subdued by Jesse, whom she hadn't realized had manifested at her side.
He shakes his head at her, "Now now, that's not how I like my guests to treat each other." He says far too jovial for Santana's liking, she shudders at the tone and rips her hand from his grip, taking a large step back from the proximity of two of the men in the room. Her eyes are glaring and dangerous as Finn shuffles in his spot.
Jesse turns towards Santana and takes another step to her, "You don't have to like it, in fact it makes it much more entertaining if you don't, but regardless, you are going to go with Finn to Brittany's house and you are going to retrieve the documents I desire, and then you are going to return here and we are going to have a little get together with a few of my other associates. Is that clear?"
When Santana doesn't respond, Jesse steps towards her and raises a hand to her throat, gripping tight enough to shallow Santana's breathing as her eyes slant in his direction.
"All you have to do is nod."
Stubborn as ever, she waits until the last possible moment to give him the barest of nods before gasping for breath as Jesse releases her. He tuts at her before stepping back towards his desk.
"Always so difficult." He grumbles before his eyes turn to Finn, "Take her out of here Hudson, but just remember our deal."
Fifteen minutes later, Finn is escorting Santana out to the car that he drove off from the Pierce crew, and his own crew, in those few weeks ago. Santana refuses to look in his direction, and maintains the furthest distance possible from him the entire time, shunning away from his hand when he attempts to lead her towards the car.
"I know where we're going so if you touch me, I will break your hand."
Finn sighs and allows Santana to climb into the car by herself, getting himself situated in the driver's spot a few moments later. They're still silent as he leaves Jesse's warehouse and they head towards the Pierce residence.
"It wasn't my choice you know." Finn suddenly speaks up a few minutes away from Jesse's and Santana merely scoffs at him, still refusing to glance in his direction.
"It's always your choice Finnsolent, and you royally screwed us all over."
Santana still forgoes looking in Finn's direction, fuming too much on the inside and knowing she wouldn't be able to control her rage if she did. They'd be more than likely to get in a crash than make it back to Brittany, and no matter what's going on right now, making it back to Brittany and actually getting to wrap her arms around her and kiss her is the most important thing in the world to Santana right now.
As long as Brittany is still alive to do that with, Santana thinks as her fists clench in anger where they rest on her lap.
"You'd do it for Brittany." Finn's words cause Santana to whip her head in the man's direction.
"What?" She seethes, unbelieving that these words are actually coming from his mouth.
Finn briefly glances in her direction, "If it came down to it, you would have done the same thing for Brittany." He explains before he releases a sigh and shakes his head solemnly, "I never wanted to do it Santana, but I didn't have a choice when Jesse brought Rachel and Kurt into the mix."
Santana noticeably falters, "Kurt? You've seen Kurt?" She asks, hope lacing her tone. She hasn't seen her best friend for the past few years, and she's not really sure why. He was there all the time and then one day he wasn't, and things got so hectic with the Lopez crew that Santana never had the proper time, or means, to ever really go looking for him.
The sound of Finn sighing draws Santana's attention and she watches him hopelessly shake his head, "I haven't seen him since the last time we both did, but Jesse's got so many connections and he's so convincing he told me that if I didn't do what he asked, he'd be sure to track him down and…well that it wouldn't be pretty."
"When?" Santana asks because that seems to be a rather important question at the moment.
"Miami, around the time that Jesse found out about Hector planning to turn on him. He cornered me by threatening Kurt. But when Puck told me that Hector was planning on getting everyone away from Miami, and that he knew someone in Vegas that could help us out, I thought that Kurt would be safe." Finn tries to explain, and emotions wash over Santana at the new information.
Santana is slightly shocked at the notion that Finn has known about everything wrong essentially this whole time. She considers how much of and what else Hector has kept from her? And what else is there to learn about.
"But then we got to Vegas and one of Jesse's 'associates' got in touch with me, and he threatened Rachel if I didn't help them out. I didn't know what to do, this guy had a lot of power in the situation, almost as much as Jesse, and then Jesse showed up in Vegas and I knew that things were too deep and I didn't have any choice."
A sickening feeling settles in the pit of Santana's stomach as she considers something else of importance.
"Did you rat me out?"
Finn immediately and vehemently shakes his head, "I didn't. I swear Santana. He already knew about you, but as far as I know Jake's still clean because Jesse didn't know he was associated with you and our crew to begin with."
Santana nods, relieved, but wonders if Finn didn't tell, what has he been sabotaging, and who did?
Another thought occurs to Santana in regards to the information that Finn has relayed to her, "It was you then. You're the one that sabotaged Brittany's NOS tank in that one race weren't you?"
He doesn't answer right away, but Santana's known Finn long enough to know when the guy feels bad about something, and he's looking shittier than life right about now.
"Yeah, I was suppose to do more but I didn't actually want to kill her. The intent was to do enough damage so the car would crash and that Brittany would finally be caught by the cops but no one banked on you being there and getting her out of it." He explains and Santana's brain churns with more of the thoughts and memories and suspicions that she originally had.
"That's why Paul Evans and his stupid crew staged the motorcycle race, because Hunter was in on it too."
Finn nods, "Hunter's been in it since before I was, he's actually the reason Jesse knew you were here in the first place. I meant to tell you that," Finn adds with a guilty look on his face. Santana nods her head, signifying they're past that and for him to just continue, "He was trying to get Brittany out of the way so he could take over the crew and he and Jesse could team up and control everything in southern Nevada."
"Oh my God," Santana breathes out raggedly suddenly floored by all of these revelations. Not as though she never expected Hunter to have been a part of it, but to this extent, to have been this cunning and deceptive, it quite literally blows her mind. "That fucking asshole."
"Well from what I heard, besides not getting what he wanted, Hunter also apparently became a useless commodity to Jesse."
Santana's head whips back in Finn's direction at that, "You mean Jesse got...rid of him?"
"I don't know for sure, but I know that Jesse doesn't hesitate to destroy the things that are no longer of use to him, or in his way. I swear Santana, if I thought I could get Rachel and Kurt and everyone else to safety without doing more harm than good, I swear I would have tried." Santana's never seen Finn cry, but in that moment, tears are running down his cheeks as he looks at her in desperation.
She takes a shallow breath, "All I want is for everyone to be safe and make it out alive Finn, but mostly I want that for Brittany."
He nods and Santana takes a moment to breathe in and out slowly, running a hand through her hair.
"I'll play by Jesse's rules for now, if it means keeping Brittany safe, but you have to let me at least see her."
"You can't say anything to her that would tip her off, you know that she'd go full out Rambo to save you and Jesse's like dynamite right now. One more little spark and he'll blow."
She understands what he's saying, "I get that. I won't tell her anything that could tip her off. I just need to see her. I just need to talk to her."
Finn seems to consider that for a second before he nods, just as they round the corner to the Pierce building.
"Okay, but I get to have a moment with Rachel too."
Santana nods, "Fine but she can't say anything either. Don't fuck this up again Finn."
#################
When Brittany and Quinn are far enough away from all the blood and carnage and everything else going wrong in their world right now, Brittany puts her foot down and crosses her arms over her chest.
Blue eyes bore into hazel, as Brittany's face remains a mask of antipathy.
"Speak Fabray, and speak fast. I don't have time for any more lies or any other shit like that and considering you're supposed to be my best friend in this whole shitty ass world, you owe me answers at least."
She watches Quinn hesitate briefly with the words that she's going to speak, before she runs a hand through her tired looking blonde locks and fixes herself in a stance that says she's going to be there for a while.
"Holly and I," she starts, her eyes drifting briefly away from Brittany before returning, a sharper focus now lining the hazel, "we met with someone. Well we met with two people. They knew some things about what was going on around here and with Jesse and what not. Holly had met with one of them before, and they really seem to sound like they know what they're talking about. I think they'll really be able to help us out Brittany."
Brittany remains unconvinced for the moment, suspecting there are still a lot of details she needs to hear, and knowing she herself still has many unanswered questions.
"Okay, that doesn't explain much so let's start with the basics. Why couldn't Holly go by herself, why drag you into it? You left when a lot of shit was going down Quinn, you just left."
Quinn nods, understanding. Her rough demeanor drops and she shifts her body to be more open to her friend, "I know Brittany but I left with the best intentions in mind. I left to protect you. We had no reason to trust Holly, and I couldn't trust her. I had to know some things for sure. I had to know what was going on that she wasn't being open about."
"What do you mean she wasn't open about? Why?"
Hazel eyes focus directly on blue, "You know when Holly first took off a few years ago?"
Brittany nods. She remembers that distinctly, it's hard to forget when mother figures in your life continually just walk out.
"I never told you but one night when you and Joe and Hunter were out on a boost, I came across Holly in the garage talking to someone." Brittany's eyes widen at this information, and she feels as though she's been punched in the gut.
Why must her life be so filled with lies and deception and secrets?
She laughs bitterly to herself, because what else kind of life is a notorious car thief and illegal street racer going to have? There aren't really many other options out there in the world for her and Brittany was fortunate her father had built something for her to fall into. She was lucky to find a good crew while doing so.
Quinn continues her line of thought, "She didn't see me and she never knew at first. The person she was talking to hide in the shadows, I never saw their face, but I did catch a glimpse of their bare shoulder. The skin was tan and they bared a distinctive mole birthmark halfway between their shoulder and their elbow. I've only seen one other birthmark like that in association with that caramel colored skin."
Brittany's eyes snap up to Quinn, "Like Santana's?" She asks and Quinn nods, "Is that why you were so against her?"
"I didn't think about it when Santana and her crew first arrived. Then shady things started happening around us and somehow I just always associated Santana being a part of that. I think a part of me wanted to not like her, because I thought it would ruin our friendship Brittany." Quinn admits, a sheepish look on her face.
"You should have thought how awesome we'd all be together. We'd be like a delta of awesomeness. Totally unholy but, you know."
A chuckle escapes Quinn's lips as she nods, "I realize that now, and I'm hoping maybe we still can be. But when everything was going on, the only thing I remembered was the whole situation with Holly talking to the person in the shadows and I started to get suspicious of Santana. So I decided to call Holly back, that's why I did it in the first place, I needed her to explain everything.
The mood turns serious again as Brittany continues to listen.
"When she first came back, I confronted her about how I'd seen her talking suspiciously with someone and I questioned why she'd left you. Why she'd left us," the heartbreak is evident in Quinn's voice as she relives that memory too. Brittany steps forward to rub her friend's back. Quinn smiles gratefully.
"All I thought was that she was dealing with bad things and dangerous people, but it turns out it was the opposite. It wasn't until I met the real person she had been talking to that one night, that I realized I'd been wrong about Santana and everything else the whole time and Holly was only just trying to make things better and help us. That's why I forced her to let me go with, and that's why we couldn't tell you anything. We had to make sure everything was done inconspicuously so that no one got hurt."
Brittany is suddenly very confused again. The only thing she can think of now is that all this time two of the people she trusted most in her life, kept some very important things from her. Telling her now isn't going to excuse that action, and besides, she still has questions.
Her jaw locks firm as she takes a step back from Quinn, "You're still leaving out a lot of information Q. Like why did Holly ever leave in the first place? If the person she was talking to was supposed to help us, why leave? And where'd she go? Better yet, who was the person she had been talking to? And where the hell did you guys go? You need to tell me this stuff too."
Quinn sighs in defeat and shakes her head, "Those are things that can only be answered by Holly. She knows way more about everything. I just needed to tell you what I knew. I just needed you to know why I was involved and I needed you to know what I had been keeping from you and that I'm sorry."
Sorry? Brittany doesn't need sorry. She needs answers. She clenches her fists at her side, her blue eyes swirling with a mix of cerulean and twilight as they darken in frustration and disappointment.
"But all this time? Dammit Quinn, you should have said something sooner!"
The instinctive first reaction from Quinn is to become defensive, "I know Brittany but I was trying to protect you!"
Brittany scoffs and looks around, "Some damn good that did you, do you even see what's happening here." The frustration is getting the best of her. And just as she's about to say something else to her, she sees a figure walking into her line of sight that makes her heart skip a beat before it lodges in her throat.
God, it's the most beautiful sight in the world.
All the anger and frustration that was just boiling up in her body, Brittany feels suddenly dispelling as she watches the gorgeous woman walk closer and closer towards her.
"Santana." Brittany whispers before she takes off in a sprint towards her girlfriend, leaving Quinn and all of her other issues on hold again if only for the time that she'll get to hold Santana in her arms.
##################
Finn parks the car on the street down the block and just on the corner from the Pierce building before turning to look at his…well boss.
"You don't have much time, Jesse's got everything on a schedule. You have to get in and get back before he gets suspicious."
Even though she hates the thought doing anything in favor of Jesse, Santana knows it's her best, and only, option at present.
She nods, "I got it. I just need to see her. I'll get the documents and I'll send Rachel to you and then we'll go back."
A second goes by before she watches Finn breathe a sigh of relief, "Thank you Santana, for understanding."
Santana doesn't say anything in response, she merely climbs from the car and walks towards the Pierce building, hoping she won't be wasting any time searching for Brittany. It doesn't take her long to spot the beautiful woman as she sees blonde hair flowing strikingly behind a jogging Brittany. A jogging Brittany who is headed right towards her.
Soon Santana's feet are lifted off the ground as Brittany pulls her into an embrace, and Santana squeals a little at the unbalanced position she's in but is quick to steady herself by wrapping her arms around Brittany's neck. After spinning in a few circles, and not caring about containing her smile and giggles, Santana's feet are finally set back on the ground.
She barely catches a flash of that striking blue she loves so much before Brittany's lips are pushing into her own. The kiss is chaste, and when Brittany pulls back, Santana gasps before her face is littered in more kisses from soft pink lips. Brittany pulls her closer again, strong arms wrapped around her waist anchoring them close as those same soft pink lips brush against the shell of Santana's ear.
"I missed you so much San. I was so worried about you baby." Brittany murmurs and Santana feels the first telltale prick in her eyes signifying the eventual appearance of tears that are building up in them. She sniffles a little and nuzzles further into Brittany and her embrace, pressing her own lips tenderly against the skin of Brittany's pale neck, feeling the pulse flutter under the contact.
Brittany squeezes Santana tighter, pulling her impossibly close as Santana just soaks in the feeling and presses her face against Brittany's chest, listening to the steady cadence of her heart as it beats solidly. After a few minutes, Santana feels Brittany pull back a little and when she glances up at the woman she loves, her heart tenses in terror as she sees the blood spatters at Brittany's temple.
When Santana pulls back further and glances at Brittany's torso, she sees more bloodstains and her heart freezes in her chest.
"Oh my God Brittany, are you hurt?" She's frantic in checking her girl for injuries, her hands smoothing over the dried stains, looking for any sign of anything until a pale hand catches her own in a gentle grip and another pale hand cups her chin and tilts her eyes up to meet blue again. Brittany smiles at her, a softness apparent at the edges of her mouth.
"I'm okay Santana." Santana hears Brittany say softly, but brown eyes continue to dart all over the stunning features of Brittany's face. Blonde wisps of hair matte her forehead in a light sheen of perspiration but other then that, Santana can't seem to make out any real injuries upon Brittany. Her hands still grip desperately at the taller woman's waist until Brittany's fingers trail over her cheek and tingle over her ear as she pushes a lock of hair behind it.
Santana feels everything as Brittany cups her cheeks and leans down, drawing her into another soft and emotion filled kiss. Pink lips peck affectionately at full ones as Brittany's nose brushes against Santana's.
"It's not my blood beautiful, I'm okay. I promise." Brittany murmurs against Santana's lips before a choked sob escapes Santana's mouth in relief and her hands tangle in blonde locks tugging Brittany closer just to taste everything about her that's alive and okay.
They're breathing is heavy and desperate when they break for air several minutes later, foreheads resting against foreheads, eyes closed, hands gentle as pale thumbs brush tan cheekbones and tan hands remain holding a firm grip at the base of Brittany's skull.
When Santana finally calms down from the emotional roller coaster she was on in thinking Brittany was hurt, she takes a shaky breath and breaks the silence, even as her eyes remain closed and her forehead continues to press into Brittany's.
"Is everyone else okay?"
Brittany pulls on Santana's cheeks again to press another kiss to her lips before she answers, "Puck and Mike were injured in a car wreck that Paul Evans and his crew were in." Santana's eyes snap open at this information, remembering something that Jesse had told her. She wants to open her mouth and tell Brittany everything, but she knows she just puts them all in greater danger if she does.
Instead she nods, letting Brittany know that she's listening.
"They're okay, Puck's got a busted arm and a gash in his stomach and Mike's got a pretty messed up arm and scratches on his face and neck but they're both going to live."
"That's good." Santana responds and feels Brittany nod in return, her thumbs still softly stroking against tan cheeks.
"Yeah, everything was really screwed up there for a second." Brittany explains, "But Holly and Quinn are back and they're going to be doing some explaining. And now you're back in my arms and things are definitely better."
Santana smiles into the kiss that Brittany presses to the corner of her mouth, taking a deep breath at the warmth that spreads through her body from it.
"I love you Santana." Brittany whispers, lips now pressed against lips and Santana's hands find the front of Brittany's shirt as her fists grip at the fabric and bunch it in between her fingers as she holds the taller woman close, the impending weight from the moment she'll have to let her go putting more and more pressure on her chest as the seconds tic by.
She feels Brittany's tongue, soft but sure, lick along her bottom lip and Santana's mouth opens to welcome Brittany's taste, touch, and affection in. When their tongues meet, the spark is instantaneous, traveling from her lips to her toes as Santana rocks forward and Brittany catches her, lips never breaking the sweet connection that's shared between them.
When breaths are a heavy blanket of air against each other's lips, Santana's eyes flutter open to glimpse into blue. With a smile, her hands snake around Brittany's waist and lock at the small of her back, and her lips trail kisses across a strong jaw line until her nose touches the soft skin of a pale neck and the irreplaceable scent that is Brittany lingers in her senses.
"I love you too Brittany. Always."
They bask in the silence of each other for the next few minutes, holding tight and close and brushing lips against skin in soft touches wherever they can reach. The moment in only broken when Quinn's voice carries through the silence.
"Brittany," It's not demanding, but it's not gentle and Santana feels Brittany tense in her arms when the voice reaches their ears. Santana's body quakes as Brittany places another delicate but loving kiss on her lips before she straightens up and turns to find the shorter blonde woman walking their way.
Quinn stops a few feet in front of them, her eyes surveying the way Santana holds onto Brittany who holds onto her in an equally sure and protective manner. She nods to Santana who tries not to balk, remembering the way those hazel eyes slanted at her in distrust only a week before.
"I'm sorry to interrupt," Her tone this time is admirably genuine, and surprises Santana. "Mike's returned, and he wanted to discuss something with you that he'd forgotten." Quinn explains and Santana watches as a look of interest and then regret flash in Brittany's tired blue eyes.
She turns apologetically to Santana, who decides to speak up before Brittany makes herself feel worse about the whole thing. With a smile, Santana leans up to peck Brittany's lips again as one hand reaches up to glide her fingers over a freckled spattered cheek.
"It's okay, you go do what you need to. I have to grab something from your condo anyway." Santana informs, trying to keep her voice from cracking at the thought of having to walk away from this safety, this love, this wholeness that she finds in Brittany and her embrace and her presence.
A smile spreads on Brittany's lips, "Okay, I won't be long. Fifteen minutes?" She questions to herself and Santana watches Quinn shrug unknowingly before she huffs and nods in acceptance. Blue eyes return to Santana, "Good, fifteen minutes and I'll see you. If not, you come find me okay?"
Santana's heart twists in regret for her deception, but she knows it's the only option available to her now. She nods and they kiss once more before Brittany's hand slides down and automatically finds Santana's, squeezing even as she turns to follow Quinn.
They don't part until the last possible second and their hands are stretched from their bodies to the maximum, they don't look away until Brittany has to disappear into the shop. Even then, Santana waits a moment before she makes her way to Brittany's condo.
Surprisingly, it doesn't take Santana long to find the documents she's looking for, having seen them before at one point when Brittany had shown her. When Brittany had trusted her and given her every thing of her heart, Santana hopes that Brittany knows that she holds all of Santana's heart in return.
A heavy sigh escapes Santana's lips as she glances around the condo, hoping it won't be the last time she sees the space. Her eyes fall on a peculiar pattern near the coffee table. Her steps are light but determined as she walks over to the furniture adorning the center of the entertainment space. Her eyes widen when she glances the tie that Hector had left in Puck's care to give to her.
It's the same tie that essentially links Finn's, and other shady associates of Jesse, connection in the entire operation. If Brittany is able to find the tie she might be able to put all the pieces together and keep herself out of harm. Santana can't directly tell Brittany about the incidents they are involved in, but leaving clues will possibly give them both enough time to get things together and figure out a way to walk out of this all alive.
And to think that only just months ago, the only thing she cared about was finding out where she was going to live and what she was going to do for money.
It's funny how some things change so quickly, and yet life is still so cruel.
Santana's thumb rubs over the fabric of the tie, soaking in its memories before she lets out a remorseful breath and hangs the accessory on the hook where Brittany keeps her keys. Brittany's likely to see it there, and even more likely to realize it was Santana who placed it there.
With one more look around the condo, Santana steps out the door and makes her silent return to Finn and the car down the street. Hoping beyond hope that if she gets through this, there's something left here for her to return to.
####################
Brittany hates the fact that she didn't tell Santana everything, specifically that she left out the fact that Hunter is back, and beaten to shit. She lied by omission to the one person she loves more than anything else, and she's not proud of it but it was better than the alternative. The irony that she's doing the exact thing she's been complaining about, deceiving someone she loves, doesn't escape her.
She's promised herself that she'll do everything she can to make sure that Santana is safe and protected from here on out, and if that means not telling her about the asshole that could have originally put her in jeopardy until she at least has a little more information on the whole thing, then that's what Brittany has to do.
Right now, Brittany needs any information she can get from Mike. Weaving her way through the shop with Quinn, who is now behind her, they exit the building and head to Mike's place. Brittany forgoes knocking, not really seeing the point of formalities and steps through the front door followed by Quinn. She immediately spots Mike sitting on his sofa with Puck standing nearby and Sugar bumbling about in the kitchen.
"Hey Mike buddy, how are you feeling?" Brittany inquires as she kneels before her friend and takes his good hand in her own. Mike smiles back at her weakly, obviously hopped up on some serious pain pills, and nods slightly.
"I'm good boss. The shoulder was dislocated, and I guess I fractured my radius." Mike replies, lightly lifting his left arm that which has a cast extending past the elbow and is hanging in a sling. Brittany frowns in sympathy for him.
"I'm sorry this happened Mike."
Mike shrugs his good side and offers Brittany his classic wide mouthed grin, "It's okay boss, wasn't your fault."
Brittany smiles and nods in gratitude, "Quinn said you had something you wanted to tell me." She feels bad pressing the issue when Mike obviously needs his rest but she can't really waste anymore time here.
"Oh yeah," Mike says as his face turns serious and his eyes squint as if recalling something, "I forgot to tell you that I remember hearing Paul Evans saying something to his second hand man as they were getting out of their."
He has to take a moment to gather his breath, his eyes starting to droop a little in exhaustion combined with the effects of the drugs.
"He said that he 'was glad that he didn't have to deal with that self-righteous bastard posing in his gang anymore' now that he had returned the favor. I didn't know what he meant though but I thought it might help yo…" Mile trails off in utter fatigue and is suddenly nodding off, his head slumped forward and his eyes closed. Brittany glances up to Lauren still standing in the corner.
"Lauren, I need you to have Rory come and set up base in here and you and he can keep an eye on Mike."
Lauren nods her acceptance and walks silently from the house. Brittany turns to Puck.
"Are you up for being on guard and protector duty if I have to leave?"
Puck nods, "Yeah, I can stay. I'll get David and Cooper, we'll keep shit from going down."
"I might need David." Brittany responds and Puck looks at her in question but then nods.
"Coop and I will keep you covered." He says before he too walks out of the house.
"Quinn, what Mike said could mean a lot of things, but one thing's for sure; the guy dressed in the black gear during that staged race was not originally part of the Evans crew, which means he is most likely a part of Jesse's crew. We need to figure out who that is." Brittany says as she rises from her spot and turns towards her friend.
She's still irritated at her deception, however good placed Quinn claims it to be, but Brittany knows that there are other things to figure out now.
"I need to talk to Holly and get the whole story, and can you go find Santana and tell her to meet me at Hunter's place. I think it's time that she found out everything else that was going on." Brittany requests. She thinks that, in light of everything, now might be the best time for Santana to hear everything, so that she and Brittany can be on the same page.
Quinn nods and heads for the door, but doesn't even reach out to open it before it's being opened from the other side and revealing a very pale faced Rachel.
"Brittany," Rachel begins, making eye contact with the woman in question, "I'm really sorry to bother you but…there are police officers outside asking for you. They look really serious about something."
Brittany body suddenly runs cold at hearing those words. She swallows thickly and turns her eyes back to Quinn who gives her a short nod. Blue eyes fall back onto Rachel still standing in the door.
"Rachel, I need you to very calmly proceed to Hunter's condo and inform Holly of the situation at hand. Tell her that no matter what she has to stay there and ensure that Hunter's condition does not get discovered."
Rachel nods obediently and rushes off.
"Do you think they're legit?" Quinn questions as she steps with Brittany out the door.
"I don't know Quinn, but I have a feeling things are going to get a whole lot worse before they get better."
They both walk in silence the rest of the way to the squad car parked and waiting outside Brittany's garage as they see the sun making it's way over the horizon.
Brittany is holding her breath that she makes it through the rest of this day.
Well now that's interesting eh? Hope you all are still enjoying this and things are kind of adding up for you! If not, and even if they are, feel free to tell me what you think! Thanks everyone! See you next Friday!