Chapter 12

Disclaimer: I don't own glee or this story


Santana walked back in her office, kicked the door close and flopped face down on her couch, yelling in frustration after losing a patient. She buried her head under the pillow and exhaled deeply as her phone vibrated, she groaned and reached for it, answering when she saw Brittany's name.

Hello?

Hey baby, I'm going to work late tonight so I can leave early for my doctor's appointment tomorrow. Can you pick up Taylor from school?

Yeah sure.

What's wrong?

Nothing.

Santana, what's wrong? Are you crying?

My patient died. Santana sniffled and wiped her eyes and sat up. I know I shouldn't be this upset, but I really, really thought we could save him.

How old was he?

35, two kids, his wife is pregnant with their third.

Brittany was quiet for several minutes before finally speaking. I can work from home later, I'll get Tay from school and I'll take over dinner for you tonight too.

You don't have to do that.

Yes I do, baby, it's not a big deal, seriously. We can light the fireplace and relax tonight, take your mind off it, when you lose a patient you end up going through the motions of the surgery over and over and you obsess over it, you watch a ton of videos and read all of your medical books to figure out what you think you did wrong while blaming yourself, and I don't want you to torment yourself tonight, I want you to come home and relax.

Santana sighed, knowing Brittany was right and nodded. Can you make that stuffed chicken?

If that's what you want, I can.

Yeah, that would be good.

Do you have more surgeries today?

No, not unless something comes up unexpectedly. I think I just may go hang out with Sky for the next hour or so before I leave.

Okay, go love on Sky so you'll feel better. You're a great surgeon Santana, but you know you can't save everyone, baby, you know that more than anyone else. I know, and I know that I love you so much, thanks for calling.

I love you too

Go make sure Sky isn't shaking down the other toddlers for graham crackers and bottles. Brittany teased while laughing.

You mean her sucking on the graham cracker and handing it off to someone else. Santana smiled. Thanks for making me laugh.

You're welcome, I gotta go, see you at home. Love you.

Love you too. Santana stared at the phone before ending the call and exhaled as she tossed it on the couch and ran her fingers through her hair just as there was a knock on her office door.

"Come in!" Santana grabbed a granola bar off of her desk and opened it as Mercedes walked in.

"What's up doc?" She smiled as she sat down on the couch.

Santana laid back down and ate her granola bar. "Nothing, how's the vagina business?"

Mercedes hit her on the leg. "Stop calling it that." She laughed. "And it's good, I've delivered two babies this morning, and I get the feeling that the Johnson's will be calling me to tell me that their water broke. You look down, what's wrong?"

"Lost a patient." Santana shrugged, taking a big bite of her granola bar. "Damn, sorry to hear that." Mercedes shook her head. "That's never easy."

"You're married to a doctor, do you think it's easier to talk to Darius about things like this?" Santana asked.

Mercedes narrowed her eyes on her. "What do you mean?"

Santana sat up and popped the last piece in her mouth before running her hands on her thighs while she thought about how to formulate what she was trying to say. "Part of the reason Brit and I got divorced the first time is because we didn't really show interest in each other's jobs, I didn't ask how her day was, she didn't ask how mine was, we just didn't care I guess."

Mercedes nodded. "Are you having the same problems again?"

"No, we are doing great." Santana shook her head. "I just don't think Brittany gets how hard it is when I lose a patient. Like I can tell her, and she's great, but I can tell she's just saying what she thinks I want her to say."

"Explain."

"She always just says I'm a good surgeon and to never forget it." Santana replied. "She always pays close attention to me and likes cuddles and stuff that night but I don't know..."

Mercedes stared at her and leaned back on the couch. "This isn't about Brittany at all, you're just looking for something to complain about so you can deflect from the real problem, what's going on?"

"Nothing, I don't really want to talk about it." Santana shook her head. "Okay, you don't have to talk to me, but talk to Brittany, can I ask if it's something with her?"

"No, not at all." Santana said quickly. "We are in a really, really good place right now. Our marriage is going great, I'm so happy and lucky we are back together."

"Good." Mercedes smiled. "I'm not letting you two get divorced again." She teased.

"Don't look for reasons to pick a fight with her, and that's what you're doing right now."

Santana rolled her eyes and sighed. "I know."

"What's going on with you?" Mercedes questioned again.

"Nothing."

"Mmmmhmmmm." She stared at her friend. "Don't let whatever is going on up here." She tapped her on the head. "Mess up what you and Brittany have been working on for the past two years."

"I won't." Santana replied sternly. "What are you doing for Thanksgiving?"

"Nothing, cooking at home? You going to Lima?" Mercedes asked, grabbing some candy off of her desk.

"No. I'm working next Friday." Santana stated as Mercedes pager went off.

"I gotta go, I'll call you later, maybe we can get together next Wednesday for some drinks? We'll come by you so you don't have to bring Sky out in the cold."

"Sounds good." Santana smiled as Mercedes waved and left the room. She then stood up and left the office making her way to the daycare to play with Skylar a little before they headed home. She watched her daughter through the window for a minute, smiling at the yellow smiley face hooded sweatshirt and dark denim jeans she had on with her tan Uggs. Taylor woke up early and insisted on dressing her little sister that day, so the outfit is courtesy of her, she had Skylar's hair in a ponytail with a big bow on top, and Santana couldn't help but feel her heart turn to putty at how cute she looked, especially when she smiled and her face matched the sweatshirt.

"Mami!" Skylar screeched as she ran in place and jumping up and down before finally moving towards her mother, who bent down to hug her tightly.

"Hey Sky Sky." She winked at her daughter, kissing all over her face as Skylar giggled and blushed, grabbing Santana's face. "I missed you all day, and need a hug and kisses from you."

"Kissy." Skylar nodded and kissed Santana before blushing and turning a soft shade of red.

"Gracias." Santana told her as Heather walked over. "Hey Dr. Lopez."

"Hey Heather." Santana smiled. "How's she doing?"

Heather and Santana both glanced at Skylar as she hugged Santana leg tightly, Santana handed her stethoscope to her and laughed when Skylar began to babble incoherently into it, something she loved to do. "She's doing great." Heather smiled. "I think you coming to get her for lunch helps break up the day for her, she's napping good, and plays with the other kids."

"Good, and you all work on letters and numbers?" Santana asked, walking over to Skylar's cubby and grabbing her coat and diaper bag.

"Yes we do."

"Great, colors too?" Santana questioned, digging in the bag and grabbing a Lysol wipe to rub down the metal bars of Skylar's cot, something she did daily when she came to pick her up.

"Yes, colors and shapes are both worked on in the morning." Heather nodded.

"Cool." Santana nodded. "Brittany and I wanted to be sure she was still learning, I did a lot of teaching and working with her when I watched her during the day, so I want, we want her to continue learning, even at her age."

"Completely understandable." Heather nodded. "I meant to call you earlier, we are updating emergency contacts for all of the kids and we want to make sure that it's current, we have a Quinn Fabray for Skylar, meaning she's on the list to pick her up and who we should call if we aren't able to contact you or Brittany."

Santana took a deep breath and nodded. "That's correct, you can keep Quinn on file. Try me first since I'm in the hospital, then Brittany, and finally Quinn."

"And Miss Fabray is aware she's the emergency contact?" Heather asked. "We like to make sure so there aren't any surprises."

"Yes, she's our older daughter's emergency contact as well, so it's not a problem." Santana stated softly. "Sky, come here, ven aqui."

Skylar dropped the bear she was holding and ran over to Santana, who bent down and scooped her up. "Great, if I can get your signature once more just stating that I confirmed everything with you."

"Sure." Santana carried Skylar to the main desk and stared at Quinn's name as the emergency contact before finally signing and initially. Although she was pissed at Quinn still, she knew that Quinn would drop everything for the girls and come running.

"Ready to go home?" She asked Skylar, who yawned and smiled at her, hugging her neck tightly. "Let's go home so I can get my boots on like yours." She told her as she carried her out of the daycare room.


10pm

"You've been quiet all night." Brittany stated softly as she walked into the bedroom.

Santana, who was curled in the big round chair they had in front of the fireplace in their room, looked up from the book she was reading to Skylar, since the tiny Latina wouldn't lay down and go to sleep, locking eyes with Brittany who leaned down and kissed her, before kissing Skylar on the

forehead, tickling her stomach through her teddy bear footed pajamas. "Is Tay asleep?"

Brittany nodded and sat down next to Santana in the chair, she wrapped her arm around her waist, resting her chin on her shoulder, laughing as Skylar grabbed her little feet and lifted them in the air with a big smile before she reached for the book and stared at the pictures. "Did you like dinner?

Santana turned the page for Skylar and leaned back into Brittany's embrace. "Yes, I love when you make the stuffed chicken, thank you."

Brittany kissed her on the neck and hugged her tightly. "What's going on, San?"

"I'm fine, B." Santana assured her, looking into her eyes.

"You're taking a half day tomorrow to come with me to the doctor tomorrow right?" Brittany asked.

"Yeah, I'm going in at 8am and working until 1pm, you're appointment is at 2pm, right?" Santana inquired, closing the book when Skylar began to play with the bottom of her t-shirt instead.

"Yeah, do you want to take me to work, that way we can just have one car and not two?" Brittany asked, as Skylar turned and stared at her, sticking out her tongue and laughing. "You need to be asleep." Brittany laughed, pinching her cheek and making a face back at her.

Skylar covered her eyes with her hands and shook her head before leaning back on Santana's chest and peeping at Brittany. Santana began to rub her little thighs, knowing that usually lull her to sleep.

"Yeah I can take you, we need to use your car, I don't have gas in my truck, well I need to stop and get some, unless you don't mind stopping in the morning."

"I don't mind, but it's up to you." Brittany shrugged. "Are you coming to bed?"

"Yeah, I'm going to play with Sky a little and try to tire her out, she won't go to sleep if we put her in her crib right now." Santana nodded, standing up with Skylar held her around the chest with one arm, Skylar looked up at her mother and began to kick her legs and dance around while smiling at Brittany, who grabbed her hand and danced with her.

Santana bounced Skylar around so she was dancing with Brittany, who twirled herself around and began to freestyle dance to entertain her daughter. "Go Sky Sky, go Sky Sky!" Brittany chanted while clapping as Skylar continued to kick her legs until Santana set her down on the floor and she began to jump around with Brittany, who dropped to her knees and continued dancing with her before scooping her up and kissing all over her face to make her laugh as she ran with her to the bed and cuddled her close before jumping in the bed.

"Careful with your back." Santana smiled as she climbed in bed next to them, grabbing Skylar and setting her on her legs so Brittany could get under the covers.

"You need to go to sleep." She told her daughter tapping on her chest.

Skylar grabbed her finger quickly and smiled as she began to wave Santana's hand around. "Mami?"

"Yes Sky Sky."

"Tay?"

"Taylor is being a good girl and is in bed." Santana laughed. "You can play with Tay tomorrow."

Skylar furrowed her eyebrows and poked her bottom lip out. "There's your pout." Santana told Brittany, who was brushing her hair.

Brittany laughed and glanced at Santana before kissing her on the cheek. "My pout works on mami all the time." She told Skylar.

"Hey...don't tell my secrets." Santana laughed.

"Qwat, qwat." Skylar stated while bouncing on Santana's legs.

"Quack quack." Santana mimicked.

"Who does that?" Brittany asked Skylar.

"Duckie!"

Santana and Brittany both quickly clapped. "Good job Sky!" Santana beamed and held up her hand to give her a high five. "You are so smart."

"Was that a yawn?" Brittany whispered when Skylar coughed and began to rub her eyes.

"Damn nursery kids keep giving her a fever, they are oozing with germs." Santana sighed as she quickly checked her for a fever.

"No." Skylar shook her head.

"You aren't sick?" Brittany laughed and asked her.

Skylar once again shook her head and smiled as Santana kissed her on the forehead, continuing to check for a fever.

'No." Skylar laughed again before yawning.

"Okay, bed time." Santana told her, picking her up and holding her to Brittany's face.

"Give momma kisses."

Brittany puckered her lips and waited for Skylar to kiss her with a big smile as she grabbed her mother's face. "Good night sweetheart, sleep well." She winked at her, laughing when Skylar blinked slowly trying to wink back.

"Night night." Skylar blushed.

"Night night." Santana softly, cuddling Skylar to her chest while rubbing her back as she carried her out of the room.

Brittany got comfortable under the covers and picked up her iPad to check a few emails, after replying back to a number of emails from work she noticed an email from her mother and quickly read it frowning at certain parts before turning her iPad off when Santana walked in the bedroom.

"Sky asleep?"

Santana nodded. "Yep." She then went to the bathroom and did her nightly ritual before crawling in bed and cuddling on Brittany's side right away.

"Are you really tired tonight?" Brittany asked, wrapping her arm around her wife and kissing her on the forehead.

"Yeah, I am, did you want sex?" Santana asked. "If so, can we take a raincheck?"

Brittany laughed softly and ran her fingers through Santana's hair. "No, I wasn't thinking about sex, I kind of wanted to talk, but I can see in your eyes how tired you are, we can talk tomorrow after my appointment."

Santana closed her eyes and exhaled slowly. "Sounds good."

Brittany turned out the lamp next to her and slid down as Santana rolled off of her and faced the other way. She spooned her and held her tightly, kissing her softly on the back of the neck. "Is this okay?"

Santana nodded. "Yeah, I love you, B."

"Love you too." Brittany replied, she knew Santana would fall asleep rather quickly and as tired as she was herself, she stayed up thinking about her mother's email.


"No, no Sky." Santana shook her head when Skylar stood on her tiptoes to try and pull something off the counter in the room they were in at the doctor's office.

Skylar turned and stared at her. "More."

"No." Santana repeated. "Come here and sit with me." She opened her arms and wiggled her fingers to entice her to come.

Skylar ran happily over to her and allowed Santana to lift her in her lap, she then dug in the diaper bag and pulled out a toy microphone that lit up different colors when someone would shake it or press the numerous buttons on it handing it to Skylar, who quickly began to entertain herself.

"Brittany, we are going to take you for your MRI now." The nurse stated as she knocked and walked in the room. "Dr. Lopez-Pierce, would you like to come?"

"No." Santana shook her head. "We have our youngest today and she'll get antsy, but thank you for asking."

"There is a gallery just above the room, we use it for teaching, you can take your daughter there." The nurse smiled.

Santana's eyes perked up. "That would be great." She nodded and stood up before walking over to Brittany and kissing her softly.

"I know you hate these but hopefully it goes quickly for you." She whispered to her, remembering the first time Brittany got an MRI done, how she was so drained and exhausted after from the nervousness of being in the tube for over an hour.

"I'll be okay." Brittany nodded.

"I'll get Brittany all set up and then I'll come back to grab you."

"Thank you." Santana smiled with a small wave to Brittany as they wheeled her out.

"Bye momma." Skylar waved.

Brittany smiled and waved back at her daughter, blowing her a kiss.

Santana glanced at Skylar, who was sitting in the chair next to her attacking her snack cup of goldfish, staring at each one in amazement when it was a different color than the one she ate previously. Santana stared at the scans of Brittany's back as they flashed on the screen quickly, she groaned when she wasn't able to fully study the slides as much as she wanted and debated knocking on the glass, asking them to slow down.

"Mami, fishees!" Skylar smiled, standing up in the chair and putting a fish in Santana's face.

"I see, baby." Santana smiled at her, sitting her back down in the chair. "Stay seated please." She added before looking back at the slides, pulling out her phone and holding it up trying to take a few pictures but couldn't get any good ones. She saw Brittany's feet begin to shift quickly and knew she was getting uncomfortable, she rocked nervously in her seat, sighing and once again sitting Skylar back down when she stood up. "You have to stay seated." She told her in Spanish, which Skylar was quickly learning meant her mami meant business, the tiny Latina nodded as Santana scooted her back deeper in the chair and kissed her on the forehead.

"Dr. Lopez-Pierce, we are going to take a small break before we move to the next level. I'm going to turn Brittany's music off if you would like to talk to her for a few minutes." Dr. Patterson, Brittany's primary doctor for her back stated.

"Thank you." Santana stood up and nodded as she walked closer to the glance. "Stay in the seat." She shook her head at Skylar who moved forward a little. Skylar nodded and smiled when Santana did and began to eat her snack again.

"Brittany, baby you are doing so good." Santana stated softly when they gave her the signal that Brittany would be able to hear her.

"I hate being in here." Brittany sighed.

"I know baby, but you're more than halfway done I think, just another twenty minutes or so, then we can go home, maybe go out to dinner if you want after we pick up Tay?" Santana suggested.

"That sounds good." Brittany stated.

"How's Sky?"

Santana glanced at her daughter, who was staring at the pink Goldfish in her little hand and laughed. "She's okay, mesmerized by the rainbow goldfish instead of the plain cheddar one for her."

"I knew she would like them." Brittany laughed.

"Do you want to walk about a little?" Santana asked, knowing they would allow her to get up and stretch.

"I just want to get it over with." "Okay, I love you."

"I love you too." Brittany replied. "So much, thanks for being here."

"I wouldn't be anywhere else right now." Santana replied. "Except maybe on an island, my toes in the sand, and a margarita in my hand, but then I would need you and the girls too." She teased.

"Dork." Brittany laughed.

"Seriously, you're doing great, B." Santana told her. "Almost over."

Santana sat back down and watched as she slid Brittany back into the machine and began to scan more of her back, she stared at the images as she quickly flashed before lifting Skylar in her lap and hugging her. "Momma's okay." She stated, more to herself than to Skylar who was now playing with her toy stethoscope, Santana put it in her ears and smiled when Skylar began to press it on her Santana's sweater.


An hour later they were back in the room, Santana taking notes as the doctor explained what they were looking for with Brittany's MRI, while Brittany held Skylar in her lap, allowing her to play with the buttons on her blazer.

"Any tenderness daily?" Dr. Patterson asked Brittany.

"No," Brittany shook her head. "Not daily, sometimes I just get sore after lifting."

"Are you doing heavy lifting?"

"No, I don't let Brittany do any heavy lifting around the house, I do that myself, I don't even let her carry the vacuum up and down the stairs." Santana interjected. "The most she does is groceries, Sky, and maybe laundry?" Brittany nodded in agreement.

"It's not a sharp pain, it's kind of dull and lingers a little but after a pain pill or a massage from Santana, it fades away. I don't ever wake up sore aside from..."

"Sex." Dr. Patterson smiled.

Santana nodded. "I've noticed that too."

"It could be your position." Dr. Patterson stated. "I'm going to speak very candidly right now." She stated and waited for them both to nod it was okay. "Brittany you may need to be on your back more, so you aren't doing too much bending, if you are making love for long periods and you're in one position you are running the risk of stiffening or irritating your injury."

"So I'm on top?" Santana whispered softly, glancing up at Brittany, who had a small smile, knowing Santana wasn't going to adjust to that easily. "I was feeling around her back the other night while I gave her a massage when she complained of a little back pain, and I noticed around her scars were inflamed, should we worry about that?"

"Does it hurt?" Dr. Patterson asked Brittany.

Brittany shook her head. "A little, but it's not overwhelming."

"I'll take a look at what the MRI tells us and get back to you, but for now, no more lifting, get the stress down, and switch up your sexual positions, keep as much pressure and stress off of your back as possible.." Dr. Patterson stated. "Once I get the results and examine them I'll call to set up an appointment for us to talk again."

"Thank you." Santana nodded and typed in a few more notes before turning off her iPad and slipping it back in her purse.

"Blood work on the way out." She told Brittany before shaking both her and Santana's hands and waving at Skylar, who smiled brightly at her before leaving.

"Okay, come on Sky." Santana stood up and grabbed Skylar, setting her on the floor, she put her little backpack on her before grabbing her hand. "You okay to get down?" She asked Brittany.

"I'm fine." Brittany nodded and stepped down, she straightened out her skirt and buttoned the two buttons on her blazer as Santana grabbed their coats and picked up the diaper bag, Brittany grabbed Skylar's hand so Santana could carry everything and make their way to the other end of the office so she could get her bloodwork done.


6pm

"And this is where the Princess lives." Taylor explained to Skylar, who was sitting in the middle of the floor watching her big sister build a lego tower. Taylor placed the small princess toy inside the window of the castle with a proud smile.

"Taylor, did you finish your homework?" Brittany asked, peeping in the living room at her daughter.

"Almost."

"Back to the table please." Brittany told her. "Dinner is almost done, then after that it's bath time and reading, you heard what mami said before she ran to the store, no TV tonight because of the note you got sent home again today."

Taylor nodded and looked down. "Sorry, I just wanted to help Sky with her tower."

"I know, but homework." Brittany stated sternly yet softly before turning to head back to the kitchen.

"Sorry Sky." Taylor told her before kissing her on the cheek and standing up, Skylar immediately leaning forward and knocking the tower over with a big smile as the doorbell rang. "I'll get it!" Taylor yelled.

"No you won't." Brittany stated as she walked back in the living room, drying her hands off and looking through the window before opening the door.

"Buela!" Taylor screamed happily as Skylar came running over.

"Hola Taylor." Mrs. Lopez smiled as Taylor jumped in her arms, hugging her tightly. "Brittany, you look absolutely gorgeous." She smiled, breaking her embrace with her eldest granddaughter and hugging her daughter in law.

"Maria, what are you doing here?" Brittany asked with a big smile.

"Well, that daughter of mine doesn't answer my phone calls, so I got worried and came to New York." Mrs. Lopez stated as Skylar hugged Taylor's leg and stared at her. "Oh my, is this Skylar?"

"Yep, this is her Buela!" Taylor said excitedly, grabbing Skylar's hand as Brittany closed the door behind her mother in law and pushed her suitcase over to the side.

"Crap, you've never seen Skylar in person have you?" Brittany smiled, bending down and lifting her daughter slowly. "This is your buela." Brittany stated to the tiny Latina, who was staring at the elder woman.

"Mami."

"She does look like mami." Taylor laughed.

"She's beautiful, you look just like Santanita at this age." Mrs. Lopez gushes as she reaches for her. Skylar glanced at Brittany, who nodded it was okay, before Skylar reached for her, quickly changing her mind and shook her head no, leaning back into Brittany.

"Yes, she's Santanita's daughter." She laughed.

"Well, come on in." Brittany smiled. "Where are you staying?" "Here I hope." Mrs. Lopez raised an eyebrow.

"Of course." Brittany shook her head. "I just didn't know, Santana hadn't mentioned anything. I can get the guest room ready for you and dinner will be done soon."

"Well, I haven't talked to her in months." Mrs. Lopez pointed as they sat down in the living room.

"Go get Buela some water." Brittany told Taylor, who nodded excitedly and ran to the kitchen, Skylar wiggled out of Brittany's grasp and followed behind her sister.

"What do you mean months?" Brittany frowned. "Santana..."

"Has been avoiding my calls...it's been months." Mrs. Lopez stated, taking her glasses off and pushing them in her long black hair, that was streaked with grey. "I needed to see my grandbabies, I haven't even met one and she's over a year old, and I'm a stranger to her, that's not okay."

"I don't know what to say, Santana said you were busy the times I suggested you come to New York, my parents have been a few times to see Sky." Brittany shook her head.

"I know, I've been talking to your parents." Mrs. Lopez stated.

The door opened and shut loudly. "Brit! They didn't have the purple cauliflower you wanted." Santana yelled as she kicked her boots off, she stared at the luggage by the door, noticing the initials in the custom Louis Vuitton suitcase and froze. "Shit." She quickly walked to the living room and saw her mother and dropped the bag in her hand.

"Hola Santanita." Mrs. Lopez stated, narrowing her eyes at her daughter.


Thoughts?