A/N: Trigger warnings for violence, attempted sexual assault, homophobia

xoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Chapter 5 – Kansas City, KS (July 17 – July 22)

After New Mexico, they had stops in Oklahoma City and Tulsa, Oklahoma before going into Kansas. Four shows in Witchita then six in Kansas City, Kansas.

They really hadn't had much time off since the three days in early July so when they got into Kansas City early in the afternoon of the seventeenth, all three girls were beyond thrilled that the tour had booked hotel rooms. That meant real beds and real showers.

They'd decided to order in pizza and pig out on vending machine snack foods and sodas while watching movies. Mercedes and Santana were sitting in Santana and Brittany's room while Brittany was in the shower. They got a bunch of change and singles together and Santana grabbed the ice bucket and a re-usable shopping bag. She was wearing her glasses, a pair of flannel pajama pants, and one of Britt's hoodies; she slipped on her sneakers and walked down the hall to the vending area while Mercedes called in their pizza order.

She filled the bucket with ice and put it in the bottom of the bag. She bought six sodas; two root beer for Mercedes, two orange for Britt, and two diet colas for herself and put those in the bottom of the bag next to the ice. She bought several bags of chips (a variety of flavors/kinds) and popcorn and tossed those in the bag as well.

She had set the bag down just outside the doorway and was contemplating the "sweet" selection when someone else entered the area. Santana looked up and nodded a hello to … Caleb … that was his name … before turning back to make her selections.

"So, Santana, I was thinking," Santana frowned and looked over at him, "my roommate is out for the night. I thought maybe you'd like to join me in my room so we could get to know each other a little better." His smarmy grin turned Santana's stomach. She thought everyone knew she was with Brittany; what the fuck was this guy thinking?

"Uh, no, thanks. I'm good." She once again turned back to the vending machine, hoping that would put an end to the conversation.

It didn't.

"Oh, come on, don't be like that." He walked up behind her and slid his hands down her biceps, leaning down to kiss her neck. "You know you want me; you've been flirting with me for weeks, practically eye-fucking me."

Santana didn't think; she reacted. She snapped her head back, catching him in the side of the face while stepping backward onto his instep. Her elbow came up and caught him square in the solar plexus causing him to step back and double over trying to catch his breath.

"No means no, asshole. I don't even fucking know who the fuck you are Mother fucking son-of-a-bitch." She spat at him.

"Fucking bitch," he wheezed out before backhanding her across the face, causing her glasses to go flying, and stalking toward her.

She swung her Sue Sylvester trained leg up and nailed him in the crotch. The force of it had him doubling over and falling to the floor, vomiting.

She was just about to kick him in the face when she felt strong arms around her and heard Brittany's voice in her ear.

"Shhh, baby, he's down."

"Lemme go, Britt, I'm going to kill that mother fucker!"

Caleb was struggling to get up. "You're a fucking dyke? All this time you've just been teasing me? Playing me. Fucking bitch!" He tried to move toward her when he was stopped by Mercedes' hand on his chest.

"Back off! What in the hell is your problem?"

"Fucking dyke's been flirting with me for WEEKS; I finally get her alone and she acts like she doesn't even fucking know me!"

"Because I don't, asshole!"

"Bullshit! Fucking cock-tease!"

"Caleb, shut up." Brittany didn't raise her voice. "You're a self-centered idiot. If you weren't so self-absorbed you'd have known – like everyone else on the tour – that Santana and I are together. I dance next to you; she wasn't flirting with you, she was flirting with me."

"You're fired, Caleb. Get your stuff and get the hell out of here."

"You can't fire me! I have a contract!"

"Wanna bet? What do you think the label is going to want to deal with – buying out your contract or dealing with a lawsuit for a toxic, hostile, unsafe work environment?" Mercedes quirked a brow at him, arms crossed over her chest.

"What the hell is going on?" Chandler, the tour manager had just come down the hall.

Before anyone had time to answer, the elevator opened and two of the hotel's security guards came out and walked intently toward the group. They were both fit, probably in their early thirties; both dark haired and eyed, they almost looked like brothers. They grabbed Caleb's arms and plasti-cuffed them behind his back.

"Let me go! What the fuck?!"

The guards ignored him and looked at Santana, who had relaxed back into Brittany's arms. Her face stung but she didn't think she was bleeding; she would, however, have a bruise later.

"Ma'am, do you want to press charges? We have the whole thing on video," one of the guards said, pointing to the camera in the corner of the vending area.

"Damn right I do." Santana answered. She was pissed. What the actual fuck?

"The police are on their way. You'll have to give a statement."

Santana nodded. "Do I need to come downstairs or will they come up?"

"We'll take him down and send the police up to your room to talk to you."

"Room 1412."

The guards nodded and started walking back towards the elevator with Caleb between them.

"You fucking bitch! I'm going to kill you!"

"Take a number, get in line," Santana muttered under her breath.

"Will someone please tell me what happened?" Chandler looked both irritated and perplexed.

"Honestly? I have no fucking clue," Santana said and told the three of them what had happened. "If Britt hadn't grabbed me, I'd have probably kicked the shit out of him. I thought every knew Britt and I were together so I have no fucking idea what the fuck he was thinking."

"I heard you yell when we opened the door to get the pizza so we came to see what was going on. I'm glad we did." She tightened her hold on Santana.

"Chandler, if he stays on this tour I'm out." Santana said. "I'm not going to feel safe with him around."

"That's me out, too. Where Santana goes, I go." Britt added.

"I told him he was fired," Mercedes said, "maybe I don't have that authority but I'm telling you if he stays, I'm going with Brittany and Santana and the label can deal with the lawsuit Santana will bring."

Chandler ran a hand through his hair. "Obviously, we can't keep him on the tour." He shook his head. "I'll call the label and find out what they want to do. Are you three okay? I mean, I'm a little stunned at the moment but, Santana, do you need a doctor?"

Santana shook her head. "I'll need to ice my cheek and I'll probably need a little more cover-up tomorrow but, otherwise, I'm fine."

"I hate to even ask but I know the label will; are you going to sue?"

Santana shook her head. "No. It's not the label's fault and as long as he's off the tour I don't see any reason to make a bigger deal out of it."

Chandler nodded. "Okay, let me call them and I'll let you know what they say. I'll have Dennis pack up Caleb's stuff and we'll ship it back to his home address." He turned to walk away before turning back. "Santana? I'm sorry this happened and I'm glad you're okay. If you need anything, please let me know."

"Thanks, I appreciate that."

xoxoxoxoxoxo

When they got back to their room, Santana started pacing and muttering in Spanish. Brittany let her go for a few minutes then stood up and pulled Santana into her arms.

"It's over, honey, you're okay." She murmured softly.

Santana pulled back a bit and looked at Brittany. "Why does this keep happening? What am I doing wrong?"

"Hey," Brittany cupped Santana's face gently, "this wasn't your fault, you didn't do anything wrong. Just like in Lesbos. You are not responsible for the actions of other people. You told him no. That should have been the end of it."

"Wait, hold up, keep happening?" Mercedes looked concerned. "This has happened before?"

Brittany led Santana to the bed and sat down; Santana immediately curled into Brittany's side as Brittany wrapped a protective arm around her.

"When we were in Lesbos, this woman became fixated on Santana. We'd never seen her before, let alone talked to her. She decided that she was a better match for Santana and assaulted her." Brittany kissed the top of Santana's head. "You dealt with it much better this time," she smiled.

Santana laughed. "She caught me off guard. It's kind of sad but I'm really never "off-guard" with a guy; especially one I don't know who's coming on to me. I can't say I was ready for him to do what he did but I wasn't not ready, either."

Mercedes shook her head. "You sure you're okay?"

Santana nodded. "Yeah. And after we talk to the police, we're going to watch something stupid funny and eat junk food. Oh, I left the bag down by the vending machines."

"I'll go grab it," Mercedes said.

xoxoxoxoxoxo

After talking to the police the girls settled down and watched some "stupid funny" movies. They ate pizza and junk food and talked throughout the movies.

By the time Mercedes went back to her own room, Santana was feeling like herself again.

They got ready for bed and slipped beneath the sheets.

"How are you really?" Brittany asked as she wrapped her arms around Santana and tucked Santana's head under her chin.

"Honestly? I'm fine. Maybe I shouldn't be but … yeah, I am."

"Good. Hey … do you remember what the psychic said about 'a small problem ahead'? You think this was it?"

Santana thought for a moment. "Yeah, she told me something about a dark-haired man being the cause of the trouble and to lean on you." Santana chuckled. "I didn't even remember that but, I did let you help me. I seriously wanted to kick his face in, Britt."

"I know you did, I could feel the anger coming off you."

"But then you held me and whispered in my ear and … it just kind of melted away." Santana lifted her head and kissed the underside of Brittany's jaw. "You're amazing. You always just know what I need."

Brittany giggled and leaned down to capture Santana's lips in a gentle kiss. "I told you … the world's foremost expert in the field of Santana Lopez."

Santana smiled. "I love you, Britt."

"I love you, too. Always."