Rachel wrapped her arms around Santana's waist and rested her head on her back. They were speeding through the streets towards the meeting point, the others following in the truck.
She hated this. She hated all of it. She would have given anything to just stay in Mexico and start building a life there but she knew that Santana needed to do this. She would never be able to rest until Sue Sylvester was no longer a threat. So here they were, once again diving headlong into a potentially deadly situation with no plan, limited resource and little chance of success.
She was scared. She could admit it. After everything they had been through in Lima, and recovering from their injuries in Mexico, Columbus had been the first time she and Santana had been able to just be together, like a normal couple. With all the months of searching for information Rachel had almost been able to forget why they were here and let herself just be with the person she loved.
She hugged tighter and Santana dropped her hand to stroke Rachel's arm in return. She wished they had been able to talk about Santana's dream before all of this. She had had nightmares before but not like that, not that Rachel had seen. She just wished she could talk about what had happened to her, that she could let Rachel help her. But her reticence to discuss her feelings was part of what made Santana who she was, and though Rachel had worked hard to break through her carefully constructed defenses, she knew when to back off and let Santana come to her. She just wished that she would.
Santana slowed the bike and made a left turn, pulling to a stop outside an abandoned warehouse. Rachel jumped off the bike and took a look around. She pulled her helmet off and turned back towards Santana, gasping slightly in surprise as she pulled her into a passionate kiss.
"You know how much I love you, right?" Santana asked, dropping her forehead against her own. "Please understand why I don't want you to go in there with me?"
Rachel nodded and brushed the hair off Santana's face. "But you have to know that I feel exactly the same way and I cannot let you do this. I cannot lose you, Santana, and if this goes bad I want to be right there with you, not trying to get to you, imagining all the horrific things they are doing to you. Again." She grabbed the front of her jacket and pulled her back into a kiss.
The truck pulled to a stop behind them and Cara jumped out.
"Alright, ladies, times a wasting." She announced, stopping in front of them, arms crossed. "Let's get to it."
Santana nodded and started across the street. "Cara and I will check out the yard. Rachel, take Mike and Tina and check out the inside. Puck, get that truck out of sight and meet me out back." She squeezed Rachel's hand and let go, heading round the back of the building with Cara in tow.
Rachel sat on a crate and watched Santana stalk up and down the yard. She flashed her eyes up to the windows on the top floor, drawing slight comfort from the fact that their friends were hidden there.
There was movement at the entrance to the yard. Santana stopped her pacing and moved herself in front of Rachel, planting her feet firmly and crossing her arms. With a roll of her eyes Rachel jumped off her crate and stood next to her, mimicking her stance. Santana shot her a sideways glance, frowning slightly and shifted her position as three dark figures walked through the gate.
"Rachel Berry. I would love to say how good lesbian looks on you but..." He drawled, stepping into the light before cutting his eyes at Santana. "Weren't you trying to tell me yesterday that you were picky?"
"Sebastian." Rachel answered, gently placing a hand on Santana's arm before she could react. "Not even a hello before you launch into the insults. I see you haven't changed."
"Whereas you seem to have become a completely different person." He smirked. "Well, not completely different. You're still weird looking and annoying. I suppose Santana's tongue can't fix everything."
"Alright, let's cut the crap." Santana took a step towards him. "You know I love a good exchange of insults as much as the next bitch but I'm more than a little concerned that you're about to burst into an annoyingly nasal rendition of some mediocre pop song or other and, frankly, I don't think I could stop myself ripping out your vocal chords and then I wouldn't get what I want. I hate it when I don't get what I want."
Sebastian chuckled and took a step towards her. "Okay. I'll play. What is it that you want?"
Rachel wrapped her arms around herself a little tighter. This was it. She glanced over at Santana who was eyeing up the two impossibly big men standing a few feet behind Sebastian. There was no doubt in her mind that they were not the only backup he had brought with him.
"Information." Santana started, shifting her stance slightly. "I need information about Sue Sylvester."
"Right." He smiled. "Well, that's the thing, isn't it? See, a lot of people come to me for information. Rightly so, I know everything about everyone and I know how to make a good deal. But this…" He sucked on his teeth and raised his eyebrows. "This could get me killed. On the flipside, this probably will get you killed so...I'm in."
Rachel let out the breath she didn't know she had been holding.
"Just like that?" Santana narrowed her eyes.
"Well, no, you halfwit." Sebastian scoffed. "Like I said, I know how to make a good deal. So you tell me exactly what you want and I'll tell you exactly what I want."
"Hmm." Santana glanced at Rachel. "And what is it that you want?"
"I asked you first."
"God, are you twelve?" She glared at him. "Alright, I want her itinerary and the schematics to her compound. Now what do you want?"
He dug his hands into his pockets and smiled smugly. "Blaine."
Rachel took a step forward. "What?"
"No way." Santana shook her head. "Blaine isn't with us, and even if he was…"
"No Blaine, no Sue." Sebastian shrugged and started to walk away. "You know where to find me."
"Sebastian!" Rachel called after him. "There has to be something else?"
He stopped and turned to face her. "I don't think you understand what you are asking for. If it gets back to Sue that I am asking for this stuff I am as good as dead." He shrugged. "All I'm asking for is a show of faith."
"But Blaine is still in..."
"Forget it, Rachel." Santana interrupted, shooting her a warning glance. "He was never going to help us."
Sebastian smiled and looked up at the window. "You guys have been sniffing around here for, what? Five weeks? Surely if there was any other option than coming to me you would have used it?"
The two girls exchanged a look.
"Yeah, that's what I thought. See, I know everything about this place. I know the other leads you could have tried and, trust me, they won't be able to help you. More than likely they'll take what they can from you and sell you to her so fast even your impressive bike won't help you. Ducati Monster, right?"
"I didn't come here to talk to you about bikes, pendejo." Santana snarled, inspecting her fingernails like she did whenever she didn't want to face a particular situation.
"Yeah, well, if you had I am sure you would be having a much more satisfactory conversation." He smiled as he straightened his jacket and took a step towards them. "Now, I assume you'll need a few days to make arrangements so I will see you at the club on Thursday. Questions?"
"Just one." Santana closed the distance between them put on her fakest smile. "Didn't you already lose this game against us? Twice?"
"I think you'll find the rules are slightly different this time around, lady trail." Sebastian smiled tightly and walked off.