A/N: University City is really unoriginal but, there ya have it. As far as I know, there is no such place in NY state. It's as made up at the University itself (which, as previously stated, is loosely based on my Alma Mater ;) ).
xoxoxoxoxo
Chapter 63
xoxoxoxoxoxo
Quinn's POV
"Quinn, what was in those packets?"
Quinn sighed and turned to face Daniel. "It's a really long story, and I'll tell you the whole thing later, but the short version is: when Santana was sixteen, almost seventeen, her father had her sent away to one of those 'pray away the gay' conversion camps."
Daniel's face reflected incredulity and repugnance. She nodded at him. "Yeah. When she came back she was almost unrecognizable. I was afraid I'd lost her." She handed him the packet she'd kept back; she had known he'd eventually ask.
"Santana trusts you. She also trusts my judgment. She'd never talk to you about this stuff because she doesn't really talk about it but I'm pretty sure she'll understand why I told you and will be …" Quinn hemmed and hawed, trying to find the right words, "not okay, exactly, but, I guess, tolerant? of you knowing. That she won't be pissed, I think, is the best I can hope for right now." She chuckled lightly but there was very little mirth in it. "That packet contains pictures and a written statement from Santana about what happened over the course of the forty-three days she was, basically, held captive. I added a note to explain why people are just receiving this now, three years later. By Monday, hospital administrators, board members, news agencies … basically, whoever we thought would cause embarrassment and trouble for Julio … will receive one of those. I'm hoping that it'll keep him busy so he won't have time to harass Santana."
He nodded and opened the packet, sliding the documents out. The top page, as Quinn said, was a note from her.
To Whom It May Concern:
Enclosed are photos of, and a written statement by, Santana Lopez, daughter of Dr. Julio Lopez of Lima, OH.
In the summer of 2012, shortly before her seventeenth birthday, Dr. Lopez forced his daughter into a "pray away the gay" conversion camp.
Today, March 23, 2015, two men claiming to be in the employ of Dr. Lopez (and confirmed by Santana Lopez as the two men who had been responsible for her imprisonment at the "camp") attempted to kidnap 19-year-old Santana Lopez from her apartment in University City, NY.
If he would treat his own daughter like this … how do you think he'll treat you or your loved one?
Quinn Fabray
Daniel gaped at Quinn. "The same two guys?"
Quinn nodded.
"They got off easy. I don't think I'd have stopped once they were unconscious."
Quinn smiled softly and Daniel went back to his reading.
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Brittany's POV
Brittany had been glad to get into dry clothes. She was still exhausted but she was definitely more comfortable. She had put two chairs together and maneuvered them into position next to Santana's bed so that she could see Santana's face (and, therefore, Santana could see hers) and still hold her girlfriend's hand. It wasn't the most comfortable position but she managed to doze off for a bit.
She was roused by a raspy, "Britt?"
She opened her eyes and smiled at the beautiful girl smiling at her. She stood up and grabbed the water, offering it to Santana, who accepted it gratefully. When she was finished, Brittany set the cup aside and turned back toward her girlfriend; Santana's eyes widened in alarm and her left hand sought out her throat.
"Hey, your chain broke," Brittany's voice was soft and gentle as she captured the grasping hand, running her thumb soothingly over Santana's knuckles. "I put your charm on my chain until we can get you a new one."
"Oh." Santana nodded. "O-o-okay. Yeah. Um," she took a deep breath and let it out, "I just thought maybe I …"
Brittany shook her head. "No, honey, you didn't do or say anything." Brittany smiled slightly. "I have no intention of breaking up with you and I certainly wouldn't let you break up with me while you were under the influence. If the day ever comes when either of us even thinks about breaking up, there will be a lot of tears and lucid conversations."
Santana giggled. "When can I get out of here?"
Brittany reached over and pressed the button for the nurse. "Let's find out."
"Can I help you?"
"She's awake and wondering when she can get out of here."
"Someone will be right in."
A nurse in her early twenties came in and checked Santana's vitals and removed the IV. She smiled flirtatiously at Santana. "So, you're in a hurry to get out of our fine establishment?"
Brittany had to stifle a laugh; Santana was blissfully unaware of the girl's flirting.
"Yeah. I just wanna go home and go to bed." Her stomach growled. "Oh, maybe we can stop for food?" Her gaze drifted to Brittany.
"I'm sure Quinn and Daniel are hungry, too, hon. So I don't think they'll object." The nurse's face soured a little when Brittany called Santana 'hon', eliciting a slight smirk from the blonde.
"If you wanna get dressed, the doctor'll be in shortly. Do you need any help getting changed?" The nurse's tone was light as she batted her eyes at the Latina.
Okay, now she's pushing her luck. Brittany thought.
"Britt'll help me if I need it," was Santana's oblivious reply.
"Of course." The nurse tried to remain professional but scowled slightly at Brittany before exiting the room.
Brittany started laughing as soon as the door closed.
"What?"
"Little miss nurse was flirting with you; I don't think she liked you declining her offer of help."
Santana's forehead scrunched. "She wasn't. Was she?"
"She was, honey."
Santana shrugged. "Was she cute?"
"San!"
Santana giggled. "I wasn't asking because I was interested, silly. I was asking to point out that I didn't even notice her." She smiled brightly at Brittany. "With you here, how could I notice anyone else."
"Awwww, you're so … I wanna say sweet but the word sappy comes to mind." Brittany grinned.
"You're not very nice. Maybe little miss nursey will be more receptive to my sweetness." Santana stuck her tongue out at Brittany. "Now, would you please help me get to the bathroom so I can get dressed and get out of here? I'm cold, tired, hungry, and getting cranky."
Brittany helped Santana off the bed an into the bathroom. "Can you get dressed or do you need help?"
"I think I'll be okay. I mean, I have to pee so I can get dressed sitting down."
"Okay. If you feel woozy or whatever, call me. Don't lock the door."
Santana nodded and closed the door behind her; walking out a few moments later.
"You okay?" Brittany grinned; Santana was absolutely adorable in sweats and Daniel's sweatshirt. "You look adorable." Daniel's hoodie hung to mid-thigh and Santana had needed to roll up the too-long sleeves.
Santana nodded, letting Brittany help her sit on the bed. "Just really kind of tired and a little light-headed." She grimaced. "And I look like I'm five."
"Well, between the sedative and the hunger, it's not surprising." She kissed the top of the Latina's head. "You're too hot to be five."
Santana giggled and leaned her head against the blonde's shoulder; Brittany put an arm around her so the brunette could lean more comfortably.
The doctor came in and gave them a list of instructions for the care of Santana's injuries; recommending ibuprofen or acetaminophen for pain, Arnica gel for the bruising, and bacitracin for the scratches.
"No showering for forty-eight hours; leave the bandages on your stitches until you shower then leave them uncovered. Come back in two weeks to get them removed." He paused for a moment and considered her seriously. "I'm writing you a prescription for a low-dose, as-needed anti-anxiety medication. If you feel your anxiety becoming more heightened, use it to prevent what happened earlier. I do recommend that you follow up with your own doctor; perhaps a psychiatrist or a psychiatric nurse. A counselor can't prescribe medications but could be helpful working in conjunction with a psychiatric nurse.
"Do you have any questions?"
Santana shook her head but Brittany spoke up. "Um, she takes migraine medications … will the anti-anxiety medication interact with those?"
The doctor opened her chart and read through it, shaking his head. "No." He glanced at Brittany but spoke to Santana. "They're perfectly safe to take together."
"Thank you." Santana said.
The doctor nodded. "A nurse will be in with your discharge information and then you can get out of here." He smiled kindly. "If your wound becomes red or puffy, has any kind of discharge, or is warm to the touch, come back immediately. Otherwise, we'll see you in two weeks."
After he left, Brittany turned toward Santana.
"I need to tell you something before we get out there. Quinn sent out those packets." She watched Santana's face carefully.
Santana's face went blank; she stared at Brittany as if the blonde hadn't spoken.
"San?" Britt's question was tentative.
"Yeah?"
"You okay?"
A lone tear slipped down Santana's cheek, splashing onto Daniel's hoodie. "Yeah. It was the right thing to do. I just … it's the finality of it, you know?"
Brittany nodded and wrapped her in a hug. "I know, honey. I know." She thought about Susan; she knew exactly how Santana felt right now.
Santana pulled back and Brittany saw fear in her girlfriend's eyes. "Daniel?" She whispered hoarsely.
Brittany shrugged. "I'm pretty sure Quinn had one of the packets with her but, I honestly don't know."
Santana nodded. "Have you … ?"
"No. I figured if you wanted me to see it, you'd show me. You told me the story, I know what happened."
"I … don't want you to look at me differently."
Brittany gently caressed the brunette's cheek. "I love you. I am in awe of your strength and resilience. Nothing could ever change how I look at you because nothing could ever change how I see you." She leaned down and kissed her softly, gently.
A soft cough interrupted them. Brittany was going to kill her if it was young miss nursey.
They separated and turned toward the sound. An older nurse, probably mid-fifties, stood there with a wheelchair and a sheaf of papers. She had a small smirk on her lips and merriment danced in her eyes.
"Sorry to interrupt but I was told someone was in a hurry to get out of here?"
Santana giggled lightly, despite the heaviness of moments earlier. "Yes, please."
The nurse laughed and handed Santana the papers. "I know the doctor already went over all of that but we all know that no one ever listens to the doctor," she winked, "so everything you need to know is there. All your instructions and after care and what not. The prescription can be filled at any pharmacy. Any questions, call, okay?"
Santana nodded and handed the papers to Brittany, who tucked them into the tote bag.
"Do I really have to get in that thing?" Santana whined.
"Hospital rules."
"But Britt's a patient …"
"Nope. I was a patient and they wheeled me out of here hours ago. I stood up, turned around, and followed the nurse and the wheelchair back in to you." Brittany grinned brightly.
Santana huffed. "Fiiiine." Brittany helped get her into the chair and the nurse to wheel her out toward the waiting room.
