The scene at the restaurant is similar to the previous night, where the boys eat enough food to feed an army while maintaining light conversation. Halfway through dinner, Santana gets a text from Quinn saying that their group of friends is going bowling and that they should all come. Santana proposes the idea to her brothers and Brittany, and they all agree. After the brothers insist on paying again, they go back to the hotel to grab their things and get the car. They drive back towards campus, dropping the boys off at Santana's apartment before the girls head to Brittany's dorm so she can change.
While she runs up, Santana opts to stay in the car. She randomly has a headache and feels kind of funny. Her head is tilted back on the headrest, her eyes shut, when Brittany climbs back into the car. "You okay, San?"
"Mhm, just a headache. Ready?"
Brittany nods but makes a note to keep an eye on her. When they get to the bowling alley and divide up into teams, Santana gives very little input.
"What's the matter, baby sis? Accepting defeat already?"
Forcing a laugh, Santana waves him off like she isn't paying attention to him. Truth is, her headache has gotten worse, and she's starting to feel nauseous. As she sits down and starts pulling her shoes on, Brittany sits next to her, bouncing up and down.
"I haven't bowled in forever. This was a great idea." She flashes a smile at Santana, who returns it weakly. "Are you sure you're okay? Does your head still hurt?" Santana nods. "Let me get you some water. Maybe you're just dehydrated."
Once Brittany returns, Santana tries to keep some water down and forces a smile on her face. She wants to have fun, to hang out with her friends and family and girlfriend. So she bowls a few rounds, trying to keep her energy up and not alert her very happy girlfriend that anything is wrong. Unfortunately, she soon goes from not feeling well to completely miserable. She sits down, trying to take deep breaths and drink more water, but she feels weak, and her hands are shaking.
Turning around, Brittany notices Santana sitting down. "Baby, are you okay?"
Santana looks up at her, her eyes big and sad. "I feel awful. I think something's wrong."
Pressing her cheek against Santana's sweaty forehead, Brittana feels her girlfriend attempt to protest, but she won't have any of it. "You feel warm. What else is wrong?"
"Headache. Nauseous. I feel weak."
"Did anyone else eat any of your food at lunch?"
Santana shakes her head. "I don't think so."
"You might have food poisoning, baby." She runs her fingers down the side of Santana's face. "Let's go. I can drive your car back to your apartment."
"But you're having fun. I can wait. Or I can drive myself home. I don't want to ruin your night."
"Santana, you are not driving yourself home, and there is no way you're staying here. I wouldn't have any fun here, knowing that you're sick. Please. Just let me take care of you." Santana nods pitifully. "Okay, baby. Let me just tell everyone we're leaving." Brittany walks away and up to Luis. "Hey, Santana's sick, so I'm gonna drive her car home."
Luis's eyes widen slightly. Santana is letting someone else drive her car? "What's wrong with her? Does she need us?"
"Food poisoning, I think. She managed to eat all of her food before any of you could make it disappear, which is why I think she's the only one. I'll text you if she isn't feeling better in the morning. Maybe you guys could stop by and say goodbye before you leave?"
"Definitely. Call us if she needs anything. She won't. She's stubborn." He walks over to Santana and kisses the top of her head. "Feel better, sis." While Brittany helps Santana stand up and walk to the exit, Luis goes to tell the others that they're leaving. "Hey guys, Brittany and Santana are leaving. Santana doesn't feel well."
"She's going to drive home?" Quinn asks.
"No, she's letting Brittany drive her car."
They all look at each other with incredulous looks on their faces.
"So, it's serious then." Gabe says with a nod. "Nobody drives her car but her."
By time Brittany gets Santana into the passenger seat, she looks even worse. "Tell me if you're going to throw up, so I can pull over, okay?" She says softly, taking Santana's hand and gently rubbing the back of it. Santana nods and leans her head back against the headrest. When they're nearly back to the apartment, Brittany pulls over at a gas station. "I'll be right back. Sit tight." After running in and buying some crackers, ginger ale, and water, she hurries back out to the car, not wanting to leave Santana alone for too long.
"If you want, we can stop at your dorm, and then I'll drive myself home. I don't want you to have to deal with me." Brittany glances at Santana, who's looking at her with the saddest look on her face.
"Don't be silly, San. I'm going home with you. Just let me take care of you."
"But what if I puke? That would be so embarrassing."
"Baby, you're sick. I'm your girlfriend. I take care of you, no matter what, okay? That's the deal. If I were sick, would you let me go home alone?" Santana vehemently shakes her head no. "So that's settled. We're almost there."
By the time Brittany parks the car and turns off the engine, Santana is almost asleep. She hates to wake her but knows she'll feel better once she's in bed. Opening the passenger door, she helps Santana out. She feels so weak that Brittany wants to carry her, but she knows Santana definitely wouldn't put up with that, so she simply puts her arm around her waist and supports as much of Santana's weight as the Latina allows.
Once they get inside, Brittany takes Santana to her bed immediately. "Here, just sit down." The brunette nods, too sick to fight. She watches Brittany grab a tank top from her dresser and walk back over. "Lift your arms." Santana does as she's told, and Brittany takes her shirt off, then reaches around to unclasp her bra and pull it off, doing her best to not let her eyes linger on Santana's breasts as she does so. She gently slides the tank top over Santana's head, then leans down to take off Santana's shoes and pants. After she pulls the covers back and ensures Santana is laying down, she grabs the bag from the gas station and starts walking to the kitchen.
"Where are you going?" The sick brunette pouts.
Hurrying back to her side, Brittany bends down to kiss her cheek. "Just to put this stuff in the fridge. I'll be right back, I promise."
While she's in the kitchen, she hears the bathroom door open and close. She quickly walks there, worried that Santana is throwing up. Her fears are quickly confirmed when she hears the sounds of Santana puking and pitiful moans. After knocking on the door and getting no response, she just walks in.
"You don't have to—" Santana is cut off by another large heave. "It's gross," she whines.
"Baby, shhh. It's fine." Brittany kneels down beside her, holds her hair back, and rubs her back as she continues to throw up. After about half an hour, Santana stops throwing up and is just sitting with her head resting on the toilet. Brittany hasn't left her side for a second. She stands up to get a washcloth, wets it, and kneels back down beside her to run the run the cool washcloth across the Latina's cheek. "Do you want to go lay back down? I can bring the trash can, just in case."
Santana sniffles. "All I can smell is the bowling alley. And I think I puked on my shoulder."
Brittany makes a sympathtic noise. "Let's take a quick shower."
"I don't know if I can, B. Just leave me here. I'm not going to make it."
The blonde shakes her head. "Come on. Up you go." Pulling Santana to her feet, she guides her to sit on the now-closed toilet. After starting the shower and feeling for the right temperature, she pulls Santana's tank top over her head before removing her own top and bra.
"Wait. Huh? Am I dreaming?"
Brittany chuckles. "No, babe. I'm helping you. I smell like the bowling alley too, so let's shower together, and then we'll go to bed. Okay?"
"I'm so mad that I'm sick right now."
"I promise, we'll have many more non-sick opportunities just like this." With that, she finishes undressing Santana and herself, then helps Santana into the shower. The Latina wraps her arms around the blonde's neck and lays her head against her chest. Brittany puts her arms around Santana, running her hands up and down her naked back in a soothing motion. After a while, she gently nudges Santana under the water, where she shampoos and conditions the Latina's hair and washes her body. When she's done, Santana leans against the wall with her eyes closed, and Brittany washes herself as quickly as she can.
After they get out, Brittany brushes Santana's hair, taking care to be extra gentle. Then, they both brush their teeth and, wrapped in towels, head back to the bedroom. Santana collapses in bed while Brittany sets a garbage can on her side. "As much as I'd like to just go to bed, we need to put clothes on in case you get sick in the middle of the night." She hears a muffled grunt. "Can I borrow some shorts and a tank too?" Another grunt. She smiles.Adorable, she thinks.
Once she gets them both dressed, turns off the lights, and closes the door, she climbs into bed, unsure if Santana wants to cuddle. She quickly gets her answer in the form of a very meek "hold me, please" from the Latina. As she presses her front to Santana's back and wraps her in her arms, they both drift off to sleep.
An hour or two later, Brittany wakes up when she feels Santana start to stir. "San?" No answer. She brushes the hair back from the Latina's eyes and sees that they're shut, but before she can lay back down, Santana's eyes pop open. Brittany hears a sleep-slurred "I'm gonna puke" and quickly sits up to help her lean over the side of the bed to throw up into the garbage can. After several violent heaves and more throwing up (how does she even have anything left in her?), Santana stops to take a few shallow breaths. "Are you going to throw up more?" Brittany asks.
"I think so," Santana half-says, half-cries. The sound breaks Brittany's heart.
"Okay, let's go back to the bathroom." She helps her up and, bringing the garbage can with them, takes her to the bathroom, where she gently lowers her to the floor in front of the toilet. As Santana's stomach forcefully ejects itself again into the toilet, she hears Brittany whispering to her but is also aware that she's cleaning out the vomit-filled garbage can in the bathtub. She can't help but be a little mortified. "I'm so sorry, Britt," she says, more into the toilet than anything.
Brittany finishes cleaning out the can and sits down next to Santana, rubbing soothing circles into her back. "Don't be, Santana. There is absolutely nowhere else I'd rather be than taking care of you right now. Okay?"
Santana nods. They sit there for a little longer until it seems as though this wave of sick has passed. After the Latina brushes her teeth again, they head back to the bedroom, Brittany bringing the garbage can again. They resume their previous spooning position, and Santana's last thought before she falls asleep is that she doesn't know how much longer she can hold herself back from saying those three words.
After she's sure that Santana has fallen back asleep, Brittany whispers "I love you" onto the skin of the Latina's forehead, just to try them out. She loves the way they fit. So she presses a small kiss there, as if to seal in the words, and falls asleep herself.
When Brittany wakes up Sunday morning, her first thought is that Santana is still in her arms, which means she must have slept through the rest of the night as well. The second thought that registers is that someone is knocking on Santana's bedroom door. "Come in," she says quietly.
The door opens, and Quinn peeks her head in. "Hey Britt, is she still asleep?" Quinn realizes that this is a dumb question since she can see Santana's face, clearly passed out on Brittany's chest, the blonde's arm wrapped protectively around the shorter girl. Brittany just nods. "Did she throw up last night? I noticed the bathroom garbage was missing."
"Sorry about that. I wasn't sure what else to use. Yeah, she was sick for a while, and then woke up and was sick again. But she slept through the night after that, so maybe she's feeling a little better."
"Well, I just came in to see if maybe you could wake her, because her brothers are here to say goodbye." Brittany nods again, and Quinn leaves the room to let the guys know they'll will be right out.
Brittany starts laying kisses onto Santana's now-cool forehead and whispering words of adoration everywhere her lips fall. She runs her hand up and down Santana's arm until she feels her stir. "Good morning, baby. Are you feeling any better?"
Santana rubs her face on Brittany's arm, trying to wake herself up. "A little," she confirms. "Do we have to get up?"
"Your brothers are here, and they want to say goodbye. If you don't feel well, though, I can go tell them you're not up to it."
"No, I want to say goodbye. I'm awake."
Afte Brittany throws on the LOPEZ hoodie and puts a sweatshirt around Santana, she takes her hand and gently leads the way into the living room, Santana shuffling behind her.
"Hey sis. You feeling any better?" Gabe asks gently, patting her on the shoulder.
"A bit. I have a pretty amazing nurse." She smiles weakly at Brittany, who's just standing there, watching her with an adoring expression on her face.
The boys all nod in agreement. "Hey Britt, could you grab me a bottle of water?" Luis asks her. As soon as Brittany's gone, he turns to Santana. "Okay hermanita, we wanted to give you this." Luis hands her what looks like a wad of cash. "It's from all of us. Consider it an early birthday gift or something. We want you to have some extra cash so you can do something special for Brittany. Put it in a date fund or whatever."
Santana briefly examines the cash; it has to be a couple hundred dollars. "This is way too much, you guys. I can't take this." Santana goes to hand the money back to Luis.
All four brothers cross their arms and give her the same look. "Keep it. No discussions. We love you and can't wait to see you for Thanksgiving." They start kissing and hugging her goodbye just as Brittany comes back with the water, which Luis thanks her for. They all take turns hugging her as well. Brittany knows that she'll miss them, and it strikes her as odd but not at all surprising that she's never actually thought about missing her own sister.
Once the boys are gone, Santana turns back to Brittany. "Can we go lay down again?" she asks pitifully.
"Of course. Still not feeling well?"
Pouting, Santana shakes her head no. She feels tired, achy, needy, and cuddly. Lying down with her girlfriend fixes all of those things. After Brittany helps Santana get back under the covers, she crawls in behind her and curls her body around the brunette, tracing small circles on the skin of her stomach underneath her tank top.
"Have you thought about what you're doing for the show?" Santana asks after a few minutes of silence.
"Not really. I should figure that out. Do you know?" Santana shakes her head, indicating that she doesn't know either. "San, we should totally surprise each other! That would be so much fun." The Latina doesn't know how much fun it would be, waiting to see Brittany at the same time everyone else does, but the blonde sounds so excited that she agrees. "Oh, can I ask you a favor?"
"Anything, B."
"So, my roommate—her name is Rachel—she's in the Musical Theater program. I guess she's been having trouble making friends, and I was wondering if we could invite her over for movie night with the group or something. Not that I expect you all to be friends with her because of me, but they might like her? At least, it would make her less sad."
Santana rotates in Brittany's arms and barely brushes their lips together. "I'm sure that'd be fine." Santana thinks it's a small miracle that, in spite of everything, Brittany is such an amazing person. She kisses her again.
After a few hours of small talk, kisses, and short naps, Brittany gets a text from Sam asking if she's still up for the gym today. While she thinks she should go because she hasn't done much in the past few days, she really doesn't want to leave Santana here, sick and alone. Seeing the blonde's inner conflict, Santana pipes up. "You should go, Britt. I'm feeling better, and I have to figure out what to do for the show anyway. If you want to go, you should."
After half an hour of trying to force herself out of bed but getting distracted by Santana's lips (they're very distracting), Brittany finally manages to tear herself away and walk home to get her stuff for the gym.