A/N: I don't usually listen to music with words when I write – I find it distracts me; I end up singing along and listening to the music instead of writing. BUT … writing this chapter, I was listening to Glee and the song STRONGER came on. I found it incredibly appropriate.
xoxoxoxoxoxo
Chapter 65
Xoxoxoxoxoxo
Santana's POV
Santana woke up the next morning, surprised to find Brittany wasn't next to her. She wandered, yawning, into the living room and found Quinn curled up on the love seat.
"Did you see Britt this morning?"
"Good morning to you, too, sunshine."
Santana rolled her eyes and gingerly lowered herself onto the couch. "Good morning, Quinn," she said in an overly sweet tone, "did you see Brittany this morning?"
Quinn laughed. "Yes. She left about fifteen minutes ago and said she'd be right back. She thought you'd sleep a lot longer."
"The bed got cold." Santana shrugged.
Quinn nodded in understanding.
"What time is it?" Santana frowned, as she went to check her phone before realizing that she had no idea where her phone was.
"Almost nine-thirty. What's wrong?"
"I have no clue where I lost my phone." She tried to remember the last time she saw it.
"Let me call it." Quinn shook her head. "It's off or dead, straight to voicemail. Where did you have it last? Did you have it on you when that guy grabbed you?"
Santana shook her head. "No. I was on the couch." She frowned in thought. "It was on the couch next to me." She stood up and pulled the cushions off, finding her phone jammed between a cushion and the back of the couch. It looked undamaged so she tried to power it on but the battery was dead. She grabbed the charger and plugged it in.
"I need to call my mom today." She sighed. "I am so tired, Quinn. Just of everything, you know?"
"I'm so sorry, hon. I can't even imagine. I mean, my dad is a class A jerk but this is beyond even him." Quinn shook her head.
"Honestly? I'd give them every fucking dime if they'd just leave me the fuck alone. I have the two trusts and those will take care of things until I get established in my career. Hell, with the trusts alone I could probably open a small studio and be happy and comfortable."
"You'd really give them the satisfaction?" Quinn quirked a brow.
"No." She answered decisively. "You know why, though? Because they'd probably blow through that, too, then come looking for more from me." She shook her head. "I just want them out of my life. I wonder if there's a decent hitman available for what I could afford," she grinned wryly, only half joking.
"Um, I'm pretty sure Daniel would do it for free." Quinn laughed.
"He's a definite keeper. I am so grateful he isn't repulsed by me, that he still considers me a friend." Santana spoke seriously.
"He loves you." Quinn shrugged. "He was really angry when he found out those guys were the same guys from the camp. He couldn't stop muttering about how amazing you are for not only surviving that ordeal but for coming back even stronger. He really does admire what a fighter you are."
Santana ducked her head and smiled. "He's a really great guy, Quinn."
"Yeah, he really is." She spoke and smiled softly.
The sound of a key in the lock had them looking toward the hallway.
"Hey, Quinn, I'm back. I brought coffee, doughnuts, and breakfast sandwiches." Brittany's voice floated softly from the kitchen.
A moment later, Brittany appeared in the living room. She grinned broadly when she saw Santana. She crossed the room and kissed her softly on the forehead. "Hey, baby, I didn't expect you to be awake yet."
Santana pouted. "The bed got cold."
Brittany sat down next to her. "Aww, I'm sorry, babe. I had to do something this morning and grabbed breakfast on the way back."
"What'd you do?"
Brittany stuck her hand into her hoodie pocket and pulled her hand out in a fist, holding out toward Santana. Santana stuck her hand out and Brittany opened her fist; Santana's necklace hung down from her fingers.
"Brittany …" Santana said in an impossibly small voice, looking at Brittany as though she hung the moon. "You got me a new chain already?"
Brittany motioned for Santana to turn around and fastened the chain around the Latina's neck. "There. Back where it belongs." Brittany placed a soft kiss on the back of Santana's neck.
Santana turned around and hugged her blonde tightly. "Thank you, baby."
Brittany smiled brightly and leaned in for a kiss.
Quinn cleared her throat. "Um, you two do know you're not alone, right?"
Santana was prevented from answering when her phone started ringing.
"It's my mom," she frowned as she answered. "Mami?"
"Mija! Oh my God! Thank God you answered! I've been so worried! The she-devil and her spawn … I heard them, mija, they're sending those men to get you." Teresa's voice was frantic.
"Mami, slow down. I'm fine. Those men did come but Brittany and her friend Mike helped me get away."
"Are you okay? Did you get hurt? Is Brittany okay? And her friend? I'm so sorry … I didn't know. I have been calling and calling but couldn't reach you."
"Ma, calm down. I'm okay. Brittany is fine, so is Mike. I got a nasty cut on my arm and some bumps and bruises, Britt got a cut on her hand but Mike is injury free. I'm okay. Really, mami, I'm fine."
"Mija, please give me Brittany and Quinn's numbers so if something ever happens again and I can't reach you, I can call and warn them."
Santana gave her mother the information. "I was going to call you today anyway, ma." Santana quickly ran down everything she and Quinn had discussed. "Can you get me the name of the lawyer who handled my trust from abuelo?"
"I'll find out, sweetheart, and get that information to you. And what Quinn suggests makes sense." Her mother paused. "I will do some investigating and see what I can find and let you know. Please, mija, be careful. I was too late to warn you this time and there's no guarantee they won't try again; they have seemed a little … unhinged … lately."
"I will, mami. Don't let them catch you snooping." Santana cleared her throat. "Um, mami? You should know … Quinn sent out those packets yesterday with an updated note. I guess they'll probably start showing up around town on Monday. Please be careful."
"I will be fine, baby girl. As far as they are concerned, I am no threat or concern. I love you and I will call you soon."
"I love you, too, mami. Talk soon."
Daniel had come out of the bedroom while she'd been talking and she filled them all in on what her mother had said.
She shook her head. "Almost forty missed calls and over fifty text messages. She tried so hard to get ahold of me, probably getting more frantic with each unanswered call and text."
"Well, we know she's on your side," Quinn shrugged, "she's getting bolder, too. Like, she's not afraid to go against him now that you're not there."
Santana thought about that for a moment. "She doesn't have to worry about making things worse for me." The more she thought about it, the more Santana realized that her mother had done everything she could to protect Santana without crossing a line that would create a more dangerous situation for her daughter. "She could have left." Her voice was soft, as though she was unaware she was speaking out loud. "If she caused too much trouble they could have thrown her out. She was careful." The Latina shook her head. "I never even thought about it … I always just thought she was weak."
"You're older now and you've gotten some perspective." Quinn said softly.
"Yeah. So why doesn't she leave now that I'm gone?"
"A question for the next phone call. Let's eat!" Brittany grinned and jumped up, grabbing the food from the kitchen. Santana smiled softly; Brittany deliberately interrupted her train of thought, making sure Santana wouldn't spend the day brooding. Santana sighed; she knew Brittany had the right idea, Santana was tired and sore from yesterday and needed a day to just rest and not think.
"What's the plan for today?" Daniel asked, following Brittany's lead and changing the topic.
"Me, Britt, a blanket, and this couch."
"Oh, good! That was my plan, too." Brittany giggled.
Quinn bit her lower lip and glanced at Daniel.
"Let me guess; you, me, a blanket, and this love seat?"
"Yes, please!"
They all laughed, ate breakfast, got comfortable, and spent the day cuddled up watching movies, snacking, and dozing.
