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Don't Shoot Me Santa Claus
Hey, Santa.
Why don't we talk about it, work it out?
Believe me, this ain't what I wanted.
Santana looks at the clock for the second time in ten minutes. She's been waiting in line at the bank for at least half an hour now and her patience is wearing thin. She only has about half an hour left until the jewelry shop closes.
It's the last day that she can get to the jewelry store since it's closing early for Christmas so she really needs this line to move faster. Finally the line moves up one and Santana can't help sending a glare to the old man that had held her up for so long.
She needed to get to that jewelry store today otherwise her plan to propose to Rachel would fall apart. She had been planning on proposing to Rachel for a few months now and thought that Christmas would be the perfect time to do it.
They were still young and had only been dating for around three years, but it just felt right. They already lived together and have a child together so it seemed like the next step in Santana's mind.
Sophia had turned two this year and as Santana hoped; she looked nothing like Brody. She looked like a little Rachel replica but often had the habits and mannerisms of Santana.
Santana hopes that if Rachel accepts her proposal then she would also agree to let Santana officially adopt Sophia as her own child. That again seemed like an obvious thing to do to Santana. Sophia had already started calling her Mami and even though Santana knew that that was her role she just wanted the legal side taken care of too.
The line moves up one again leaving Santana two people away from the front and with twenty minutes before the jewelry store closes. She's just thankful that the jewelry store is on the same street as the bank so she doesn't have far to walk.
"Everyone on the floor now!"
Santana turns around to find out what the hell is going on and is greeted by the sight of three people dressed in Santa suits holding guns. She couldn't see their faces, they were hidden under red hoods and white beards.
A security guard springs into action, but before he can even get his gun from out of his holster one of the Santa's shoots him in the leg. He falls to the ground and clutches his leg dropping his gun in the process.
One of the Santas walks over to the guard and picks up his gun.
"I said, everyone on the floor."
Santana immediately follows the command and drops to the floor just like every other person in the bank.
One of the Santas picks up the security guards keys, walks over to the door and locks it.
"I want everyone at this side of the room and that includes you" the tallest Santa says to the bank clerks behind the glass.
Santana assumes that he's the leader of the three. He was the one that shot the security guard without a second thought. She moves over to where the man was pointing with his gun.
She picks a spot at the counter so she can lean her back against it. A woman with a little boy has the same idea and takes the spot next to her. She sits down first and then pulls the boy onto her lap keeping him close to her.
Santana can tell that the boy is scared so when she catches him looking at her she sends him a smile that she hopes is reassuring.
"I want everybody's cell phones" Tall Santa yells.
He throws a Santa sack to the shortest of the Santas.
"Collect them and get every single one, we don't want anyone calling the cops."
The shorter Santa nods his head and starts to make his way around the people collecting their cell phones in the sack. Santana pulls out her own cell phone and clicks the button so her screensaver pops up.
It's a photo of Rachel and Sophia that was taken a week ago. It was a close up of their faces, it had been snowing and Sophia was wearing a reindeer hat. She picked it out herself when they had gone shopping for Christmas presents.
They had been looking for a gift for Kurt when Sophia had called out for Rudolf from Santana's arms. The little girl seemed so enthralled by the hat that Santana had to buy it for her. They didn't like to give Sophia everything she asked for, but at least this was something practical with the cold weather they were having.
Santana is soon pulled out of the memory as the short Santa snatches her cell phone out of her hand. She continues to watch him as he collects the rest of the cell phones and walks over to the other Santas.
She can't hear what they are saying but it looks like they're having a heated discussion. A few minutes later the lead Santa leaves the group and walks over to one of the male bank clerks.
"Take me to the safe" he says.
"There is no way you could access it."
"I said take me to the safe" the Santa says again this time cocking his gun.
"Okay, okay. It's this way" the clerk says.
Santana can hear the fear in his voice. It's no surprise really every single person being held hostage was terrified.
"Number two you're with me. Number three you stay here and watch our hostages. If they get out of line, use your gun" the lead Santa orders.
For all Santana knew it could have been an empty threat, just a tactic to scare everyone so they would behave but there was no way in hell she was going to test that theory. She just needed to get through this ordeal so she could get home to her girlfriend and her daughter.
When Sophia was born Santana had made her a promise. She promised that she would always be there to love and protect both her and Rachel so she would do everything she can to make it home so she can fulfill that promise.
Santa number one and two go to follow the male clerk, but before they have chance to move they hear the sound of sirens.
Santa number three takes the bag of cell phones and throws it on the floor near the entrance to the bank and looks out of the window.
"It's the cops, they've surrounded the place."
"What are we going to do?" Santa number two asks.
"We stick to the plan. The cops won't try anything when we have hostages." Lead Santa says
before turning to the male bank clerk.
"Now takes us to the safe."
The bank clerk nods and walks towards a door at the end of the back with the two Santa's following him, leaving Santa number three alone with his hostages. He quickly scans the people in the bank, his eyes lingering on the security guard on the floor for a few moments.
Santana glances at the clock, it's now quarter past five. The jewelry store would be closed now and there would be no way that Santana could get Rachel's ring in time for Christmas. She'll have to postpone the proposal, maybe she could do it on New Years instead.
Out of the corner of her eye Santana notices the Santa glancing over at the security guard again.
"I can take a look at him if you want? My dad is a doctor" she offers.
Even though most of his face was covered Santana could see that he was thinking about his answer.
"Okay but be quick" he finally answers.
Santana makes her way over to the security guard and kneels besides him.
"I'm going to take a quick look okay?" she asks.
The security guard nods and moves his hands away from his bullet wound.
"What's your name?" Santana asks as she gently inspects the wound.
"John."
"Okay John, It's not too deep and with the amount of blood I would say you've missed an artery. It's not life threatening."
"Is he okay?" short Santa asks.
"He should be but I could really use a first aid kit."
"There should be one in the office" John says.
"I can't let you leave this area."
"He needs medical supplies."
"I can't, so don't ask again" the Santa yells.
"It's okay, we can figure something out" Santana tries to reassure John.
She scans the room and notices a woman close to her wearing a scarf.
"Excuse me. Can I borrow your scarf?" Santana woman seems a little confused at first but eventually takes her scarf off and hands it to Santana. Santana folds the scarf in half so it's a long, thin strip and begins to wrap it around the security guard's leg.
"That should keep the pressure on. Hopefully we'll be out of here soon."
"What's your name?" John asks.
"Santana."
"Thank you Santana."
"You're welcome John."
Santana notices the short Santa standing alone by the wall, peering out of the window. She apprehensively approaches him since he still has a gun in his hand.
"I did the best I could but he needs proper medical attention."
"I'm not in charge okay. I can't make the decisions."
"There is a child here. He shouldn't have to go through this."
"Don't you think I know that?" the Santa shouts.
The sound of raised voices catches the attention of the other people in the bank.
"I told you I'm not in charge here, I just take orders. I didn't expect anyone to get hurt. They told me the plan was to get in and get out. I didn't know they were going to attempt to break the safe. It was never meant to go this far."
"It's not too late you know? You can let everyone leave."
"It is too late. It became too late when the cops showed up. All I wanted to do was prove to Josh that I could be there for him."
"Who is Josh?" Santana asks.
"My son."
"I have a daughter. Her name is Sophia and she is two years old."
"Josh is six. My Ex is trying to take him away from me. I just needed some money to set me up, so I could get an apartment and a job. I want custody. I don't care how much I just want my son in my life."
"My daughter isn't technically my daughter, she's my girlfriend's child. We found out she was pregnant a few weeks after we started dating. The father was some douche bag she was seeing before me. I promised that I would be there for her but she thought it was only right that he knew he had a child. When she told him, he didn't care. He wanted nothing to do with the baby" Santana explains.
"Why are you telling me this?" the Santa asks.
"Because he was an asshole, he didn't take responsibility for his actions but you're not like that. You love your son and although you went about it the wrong way, you were trying to do the right thing by him."
"Yeah well I've fucked up now haven't I? After this, they're never going to let me see him again. I'll be lucky if I don't end up in a jail cell."
"You can still do something good and let everyone go."
He doesn't give a response he just keeps looking out of the window.
"Just sit the fuck down" he hisses.
Santana doesn't argue she just takes the seat she had earlier next to the woman and her child.
"Is he going to be okay? the little boy asks.
"He'll be fine buddy. What's your name?"
"Tommy."
"It's nice to meet you Tommy. My name's Santana. So how old are you?" Santana asks.
"Six."
Santana is about to reply when she hears short Santa shout.
"Alright, listen up. I want everyone over here. You, lady with the kid I want you first."
Everyone slowly starts to get up. Santana can sense that the woman next to her is terrified, so she walks closely besides her to make her feel more at ease.
"I'm sorry" the Santa says so quietly it's barely audible.
He walks over to the door, unlocks it and pushes it open.
"Go!" he yells.
Nobody dares to question him, they all just try to get out of the bank as quickly as they can. Santana heads over to the security guard and tries to help him up.
"Come on John. Let's get you out of here" Santana says.
"Here let me help."
Santana looks towards the voice. She recognises him from being stuck in the bank with him but she doesn't know his name.
"Thanks."
The man takes one of the security guards arm and wraps it around his shoulder. Santana copies his actions so that they are both taking John's weight.
They carry him outside and are immediately met by two paramedics with a gurney. The paramedics take over and help John onto the gurney before wheeling him away to the ambulance.
Santana turns her attention away from the ambulance and instead searches the crowd for her girlfriend.
Rachel is standing outside of the bank. She's a couple of feet away behind yellow police tape anxiously waiting for news.
She and Santana had decided to take Sophia out for lunch and to do some last minute shopping. They were on their way home when Santana told her that she needed to visit the bank before they left.
Santana suggested that Rachel should take Sophia for some ice cream whilst she quickly visited the bank and once Sophia heard the mention of ice cream the decision was pretty much made.
They sat in the ice cream parlor for half an hour eating ice cream and waiting for Santana to meet them. When she didn't arrive Rachel decided to go to the bank to see what was taking her girlfriend so long.
Rachel pushed Sophia's stroller down the street of the bank. The first thing she notices is the vast amount of police cars surrounded it. She tries to get as close to the bank as possible but there is police tape blocking her way.
She got out her cell phone and tried to call Santana just in case she wasn't in the bank but she received no answer.
The more time that passed the more scared Rachel became. She had heard the police officers say something about an armed robbery and that there might have been a casualty so she called Kurt and asked him to come down to the bank for moral support.
She couldn't even let it cross her mind that Santana could be the person that had been hurt. Rachel was often an optimistic person but the more she stood outside of that bank the more pessimistic she became.
It had been well over an hour since Rachel has been standing outside of the bank. Kurt has been keeping Sophia occupied whilst Rachel's eyes were glued to the entrance of the bank waiting for any sign of her girlfriend.
Rachel's heart almost stops when the door to the bank opens and a group of people exit but she doesn't spot Santana.
As the crowd of people start to disperse she sees Santana walking towards her.
"Rachel!"
Rachel dips underneath the police tape and runs past a police officer to her girlfriend.
"Oh my god Santana, I was so scared. Is that blood?" Rachel asks grabbing Santana's hand.
"Don't worry it's not mine."
Santana pulls Rachel into a hug before planting a firm kiss against her girlfriend's lips.
"I love you."
"I love you too. Where's Sophia?" Santana asks.
"She's here" Kurt says as he walks over to the couple.
"I'm sorry I tried to keep her over there but she kept struggling and calling out for Santana."
"Mami" Sophia calls holding her arms out to Santana.
Santana takes her daughter into her arms who immediately snuggles into her chest. She felt content in that moment holding the two people that meant the world to her.
She looks back towards the bank and sees the police bringing out the three Santa's. They're no longer wearing their hoods or beards and it's the first time Santana has seen their faces.
She catches the eyes of one of the Santas and she knows that it's the man she had been talking too. They stare at each other for a few seconds before one of the cops pushes him further towards the police car.
"Hey, are you okay?" Rachel asks.
Sophia cuddles closer to Santana who bends down and places a kiss on Rachel's lips.
"I am now."
Song: Don't Shoot Me Santa by The Killers.