Trusting You to Catch Me - Chapter Five

[thelastpen]

Title: Trusting You to Catch Me
Author: Sio & Maura
Rating: NC-17
Length: 31,914
Spoilers: Everything up to On My Way and then deviating from there with minor Big Brother references.
Pairing: Santana/Quinn, Brittany/Santana/Quinn/Rachel friendship, mentions of Brittany/Santana, some Finn/Rachel (not positive)
Summary: Following her accident, Quinn experiences the gamut of emotion: denial to acceptance to healing and everything in between. But through it all are her friends patiently helping her with caring and friendship and maybe more.
Warnings (highlight to read): eating disorders, severe accident recovery, graphic sex, verbal abuse, minor violence, family issues, cheating, body image issues

Chapter 5

Rachel was walking down the hall with Finn following behind her as she headed to the locker. He was talking about something, but she wasn't really paying attention. It was most likely about their failed attempt at a wedding and she really didn't want to address that at this juncture. Besides, she had to figure out how to get the lunch she'd planned for the coming Sunday all the way to Quinn's house on her bike.

"We could get married on the pitcher's mound at Wrigley Field or somewhere else..." he trailed off, grinning his signature slightly dopey grin.

"I'm sorry, I just can't stop thinking about Quinn!" Rachel finally burst out, shoving the book she'd been taking out back into her locker. When she saw the unhappiness in his expression, she quickly fumbled for an excuse, "I just feel so bad and..."

"She's right behind you," he muttered, staring off over her head.

"What?" Rachel turned to stare in shock and Quinn wheeling down the hall with a bright smile on her face. "Quinn! What are you doing here?"

"Hey," She said as she propelled her chair closer to Rachel and Finn. She blinked her eyelids over her hazel eyes as she looked up at them.

"Hey, Quinn," Finn half smiled from behind Rachel, stepping slightly closer to her. "You look... good."

"Yeah, my face didn't get too messed up," She smiled, "My nose and stitches healed pretty good huh?"

"Oh my gosh, Quinn, I'm," Rachel scrambled, trying to come up with a plausible way to hide that she wasn't surprised by her condition, "I'm so sorry! This is all my fault."

Behind her Finn relaxed with a slight smirk, confident that she'd been doing as he said and staying away from Quinn. He didn't like the way they acted around each other. It creeped him out.

The blonde blinked slowly. "What? Of course it's not your fault," she said once she remembed that Rachel asked her to not tell Finn that she had been visiting her. "I was texting and driving. I know better than that," she said, "I'm getting better every day though."

"Still," Rachel smiled wanly as Finn slid a possessive arm around her waist.

"Hey, it's good you're doing better, Quinn," he smiled at her. "But Rach and I have things to work on before class, so we'll see you later, okay?"

"Sure," She smiled, "I'll see you guys in Glee."

"Yeah," Finn grinned, tugging Rachel along with him. "See you in Glee." Before Rachel could protest, Finn had her down the hall and around the corner.

Artie rolled up beside her, the wheels of his chair hissing softly against his gloves. "Hey there, beautiful," he smirked. "You're looking good in those wheels. How are you feeling?"

Quinn turned her head and looked at him. "Hi, Artie!" She said, her voice sounding almost too happy. "I'm good. Happy to be back at school." She said as she started rolling down the hall, not seeing the stares of the students through the haze of the painkillers allowing her to sit up straight all day.

"That's cool," he nodded, wheeling alongside her. "You want to hang out with Britts and me today? I'll show you the tricks to getting around in a chair if you want."

"With Brittany?" She asked, "You're hanging out again?"

He grinned and nodded, "Didn't she tell you? We're back together. It was a total surprise to me, of course."

"That's interesting," Quinn said, not realizing that Brittany had moved on from Santana so fast. "And fast..." she mumbled as she headed to her locker. "I'm not going to be in this chair too long," she explained.

"Oh," he looked startled for a moment then shrugged. "But that doesn't mean I can't show you the tricks of getting around while you are in it, right?" he grinned.

"I guess," She said, "I'm just trying to not get tossed out of it by getting knocked in the hallway."

He laughed, "That's why I've got a seatbelt." He slapped the leather belt around his waist that hooked him into the chair. "It's a little too easy to get knocked around by people. You gotta have like spider-sense to keep from getting run over sometimes, but I'm sure you'll have no trouble. I mean, you're Quinn Fabray!"

She shrugged, "You're different. You can't get more hurt by getting kicked out of your chair."

He waved her off with a smirk, "Oh never mind that, I'm sure you'll be fine. Come on, I'll show you where the ramps are, okay?"

She nodded and rolled off behind him trying to keep up despite the fact it made her back hurt more to put more effort into moving.

"Come on, it's this way," he waved, zipping down the hall towards the back entrance.

Santana walked towards the cafeteria to meet up with Quinn. She hadn't been able to be around as much a she would have liked because of her classes and she was hoping she was doing okay. When she ducked into the room though, her face blanched with the smell of food and the sounds of hundreds of people chewing. She looked around and her eyes caught sight of Quinn with Brittany and Artie sitting at a table, holding hands as they talked to Quinn. The Cheerio looked down, feeling almost betrayed before moving away from the doorframe and scurrying down the hallway towards the choir room.

She moved back up to the back of the room and crumbled into the corner behind the risers, pulling her knees into herself.

"Rachel!" Finn's overly loud voice echoed in the room as he followed her in, "You're being ridiculous! You cannot actually be telling me you think you're friends with that... that bitch! She's nobody's friend but her own!"

"You're just upset because she calls you names," Rachel responded as she strode into the room, flicking her hair over her shoulder. "But Santana is hardly a bitch, Finn, and that is a terrible thing to say about any woman just because you don't like her."

"She's just using you!" Finn exclaimed, "God, Rachel why are you so dumb sometimes?!"

Rachel spun around on her heel to glare at him in outrage, "How dare you insult my intelligence like that, Finn Hudson! Santana is my friend and I will not tolerate you continuing to insult her!"

"You're going to be my wife," he stated, crossing his arms. "You shouldn't hang out with people who are just trying to turn you against me."

"Turn me against you?" Rachel's voice lowered dangerously. "Finn, the only person trying to turn me against you right now is you and your current cretinous behaviors. Perhaps I am going to be your wife but that does not mean you own me. I am not now nor will I ever be your property. Santana is my friend and that is that."

"She's no one's friend! She's probably just trying to get into your pants now that Brittany blew her off to go back to guys. God, I can't believe you, Rachel! Why would you do this to us?"

She didn't even realize what had happened until she saw his face turned to the side and felt the dull ache in the palm of her hand. "How dare you? As if it isn't bad enough you outted her to the entire school body because your feelings were hurt, you're actually accusing her of behaving in a predatorially sexual fashion towards me? How can you possibly think any of this behavior is acceptable on any level? I love you, but," she shook her head, disgusted, "I can't believe this side of you that you've been displaying. This isn't the Finn Hudson I fell in love with and I don't think it's one that your mother would recognize either."

"Don't talk about my family, Rachel," he warned her. "You know better than to even try to be her friend. She tricked me into losing my virginity to her... That was suppose to be for you. How can you even stand to be around her when she took something that important to you?!"

"Took it?" She looked incredulous, "She took it from you? Finn, she didn't rape you for Barbra's sake! You," her finger poked into his chest, making him take a step back, "decided that you needed to get in touch with your inner rockstar remember? You approached her. You gave it up to her. She didn't take anything! How dare you even suggest that she did?!"

"She's the one who asked! She's a slut, that's what she does! She's been with like... everyone at this school!" He replied, looking at Rachel with distain. "How could you even say that this is my fault?!"

"She may have asked but you said yes," Rachel hissed. "You're nearly three times her size! She didn't force you to sleep with her. You wanted to so you did. And then you lied to me about it and let me believe you were still a virgin. None of that was Santana's fault, Finn. You made the decision so you need to live with the consequences."

"Whatever, Rachel. You lied and said you did St. James." He scoffed, "I still got yours, so it doesn't matter. You're going to marry me, you can't hang out with sluts and dykes."

Her jaw dropped, "Y-you insufferable ass! How dare you use such vile terms and attempt to order me around in the same breath?! I can't believe you, Finn Hudson."

"I don't want her poisoning you," he explained. "It's because I love you so much and I know how important your reputation is to you."

"My reputation? I'll have you know that my reputation is built partially on being a staunch supporter and advocate for the LGBT community, which you happen to be insulting right now." She glared at him, "You are being disgusting, Finn Hudson, and I certainly hope you learn to correct your behavior before you come anywhere near my fathers again."

"Your fathers hate me! I don't want to go around them anyway!"

Her jaw worked angrily as she hissed, "They are my family, Finn Hudson. If you can't accept them then you cannot ever accept me. Do you understand?"

"I'm going to be your family." He exclaimed, "I'm marrying you."

"Are you?" She glared at him. "I never realized how much of a bigot you were until just now, Finn Hudson, and I am beginning to strongly wonder about the idea of joining my hand with yours."

"Rach..." he began, his hand reaching out to take hers as he started to realize he might have made a mistake. "You're overreacting. I love you so much... I just want to protect you. That's what fiances do."

"Overreacting, am I?" she glared, jerking back away from him. "Just being a hysterical woman, am I? So I just imagined you using derogatory phrases against my friend and implying that you'd cut me off from my family if I married you? Is that it?"

"I didn't mean that," he said. "I love you so much, I just want you all to myself," he smiled, "Just I hope that you'll listen to me okay? Just... just don't trust her so easily."

"I'll trust whom I want," she glared, not appeased so easily. "But perhaps we should spend some time not with each other so you can think long and hard about what you said and tried to do and why it was so incredibly inappropriate."

"Rach, baby... what?" He stammered, "Don't do this. I love you, I'm sorry."

"A simple apology is not nearly enough for what you were saying. You have insulted my friend, my family, and the entire community they represent. Furthermore you have insulted me and I will tolerate none of it. Now I strongly suggest you remove yourself to think upon your behavior before I lose my temper and do something drastic."

He growled at her and kicked one of the chairs as he stormed out of the room. The silence in the room allowed the soft sound of Santana crying in the corner echo through the room. Rachel jumped slightly at the sound, turning in shock to stare at the corner of the room.

"W-who's there?" she called softly, trembling as the adrenaline rush from yelling at Finn wore off.

"Who the fuck do you think it is?" Santana spat through her tears, "The fucking dyke you shouldn't be around."

"Santana?" Rachel relaxed slightly, moving over to check on her. "Are you okay? Did you... did you hear all of that?" she winced.

Santana had her forehead resting on her knees as her body shook. "Yes," she exclaimed as she hugged herself.

Rachel moved to kneel beside her. "He had no right to say any of it," she whispered, pulling a tissue from her pocket and offering it hesitantly. "His opinion is horribly bigoted and hateful. Please don't listen to him."

"H-He's right," Santana cried softly, "I... I don't deserve you or Q... I deserve what he said."

"Bullshit," she bit out only to look surprised at having sworn. "He's a bigot and I'm ashamed to be associated with him when he behaves like that. You're my friend, Santana. I won't put up with him insulting you. You don't deserve it." Her voice softened as she tried to lift Santana's face so she could wipe off her tears, "You don't."

She pulled her head away when she felt Rachel touch her. "I... Everyone thinks that of me," she whimpered. "Everyone at school... my family..." she sobbed, thinking of the things her step-mother said to her when she saw the commercial. "Even Brittany, she didn't want to be with me anymore."

"Not everyone," she insisted, reaching for her again. "I don't. Quinn doesn't. And for all Brittany's naivete, I doubt she does even if you're not romantically entangled with each other any longer."

Santana just curled into herself, "I'm not good enough for anyone."

"That's absurd, Santana," Rachel shook her head, giving up on trying to dry her face. "You're an exceedingly loyal friend. Brave in the face of clear and present danger - like when you stood up to David for Kurt and Blaine and yes, Kurt told me. You managed to get David to stop behaving so brutishly towards Kurt so that he could return to McKinley. You've always protected Brittany and without you, I know we would have lost at Sectionals last year. And you possessive a cunningly sharp wit... which you do often use to tear apart people, but I admit I likely would do the same if I could think up retorts as quickly as you do."

"I'm just a bitch who talks too much." She whispered as she looked over at Rachel.

"If you're a bitch who talks too much, what am I?" she asked with a soft smile, holding out her arms. "Come here. I think you need a hug."

Santana leaned over and rested tensely against the other girl.

She hugged her, rubbing her back through her Cheerio's top. "You're not a bitch, Santana. You're a lovely girl who's... perhaps a bit misunderstood because of your aggressive manner of defense, but you're no more a bitch than I am or Quinn is. You're my friend. I'll always stand up for you, okay?"

She nodded, "Okay..." Santana said as she rested her head on Rachel's shoulder. She was not normally this weak with anyone other than Quinn or Brittany.

Rachel smiled, resting her head against the top of Santana's. "Don't worry about Finn. I can handle him and if he thinks he can do anything to you because of our little tiff, he's got another thing coming. You just take care of Quinn and leave my idiot fiance to me, okay?"

"You shouldn't marry him," she said. "My mom married my dad and he's just like Finn. She left cause she was miserable."

She sighed softly, "I don't know if I will, but that's something I need to decide for myself, Santana."

She nodded, "It's scary to be alone. I understand that..." She said softly, "It's... it hurts."

She nodded with a soft sigh. "It is. I'm not looking forward to possibly being alone in New York. Sure, Kurt will be there and Blaine, but it's not the same as someone to hold you when it's cold or you're scared or lonely..."

"Same with going to Providence," she said softly. "But, not like I have anyone to do that here. The only quasi-interested girl is back with her ex-boyfriend."

"You have Quinn," Rachel suggested weakly, "and perhaps our friendship could continue beyond the walls of McKinley? I know I'd feel better having someone to talk to when things get crazy, as they no doubt will." She smiled hopefully.

"If you want," she shrugged. "I doubt I make new friends there anyway... and Quinn's going to be an hour and a half away."

"Do you know where you're going yet?" she asked softly. "Everyone knows my goal is NYADA, though of course, if I don't make it in Tisch is a optimal substitute."

"I'm going to Brown," Santana said softly against Rachel's collarbone. "I got early admission."

Rachel smiled, "Really? That's amazing, Santana. And that's hardly far at all in the grand scheme of things. Perhaps we could all meet up some time on weekends or holidays since returning here would be sub-optimal."

She nodded. "Don't tell anyone," she said softly. "No one knows yet... and my parents won't be happy."

"Whyever not?" she sounded surprised. "Brown is an excellent school!"

"My mother lives somewhere around there," Santana admitted, "My dad has custody of me and I haven't had a lot of contact with her... I didn't get into Harvard like my dad wanted and I applied to Brown on a whim just in case she might want to get to know me..." she sighed and rubbed her eyes. "It's stupid."

"It's hardly stupid," she murmured. "I wanted to get to know my mom," she admitted softly. "It didn't work out very well for me, but I certainly hope it goes better for you."

"You have parents that give a damn... two of them."

"Doesn't mean I didn't want to know my mom," she shrugged. "And you don't know, your mom might give a damn about you. And... Quinn's not pregnant so she can't adopt her baby if she doesn't," she finished with a weak smile.

Santana chuckled, "Point..." She looked up at the clock and pulled away and rubbed her eyes. "You... you should go get some lunch."

"No, I think I'd rather stay here," she chuckled wryly. "I'm almost certain to run into Finn if I don't and I truly don't believe I'm up to that right now. I hope I'm not interrupting your lunch though?"

"Nah," Santana said as she pulled her mirror out of her bag and worked on hiding the fact she'd been crying. "I went to go see Quinn but she was with Britt and Artie."

Rachel winced, "Ouch. That couldn't have felt good. How are you doing? With the whole break up? I know I was always a mess when Finn would leave me... usually for Quinn though once for you even if he tries to insist you stole something."

She rolled her eyes, "He's bad in bed and told me I didn't mean anything afterwards." She sighed and ran her fingers through her hair. "I hate being without her. It's like I can't breathe."

"Well, he's the best I've ever had," she offered weakly with a little smile. "I know the feeling though. It's like part of you is missing but you just can't find it."

"She's... she's like the only person I've loved, and she said she loved me," she swallowed, "and she cheated on me and I was willing to forgive her to keep her with me."

Rachel winced. "Maybe," she licked her lips debating with herself for a moment, "maybe we both need to learn to live without the people we love so much it hurts?"

"I don't... I don't know how to do that. I've loved her since I met her."

"I don't know how either," she admitted softly, holding out a hand for the other girl, "but maybe we can figure it out together and manage to find a place where we can find a true forever love when we stumble across them?"

The cheerleader shrugged, not sure if she wanted to move on. "I'm... I'm not going to be gay anymore. I don't want it... Quinn gets mad when I tell her that I don't accept it..."

"It's not exactly something you choose, Santana," Rachel shrugged. "But if you don't wish to identify as a lesbian, that's your right. Personally, I believe sexuality is fluid and thus prefer not to use labels, though I do believe I'm more heteroromantic than not."

Santana pushed her hair back and sighed before taking a sip from her water bottle. "I guess."

"There's nothing wrong in not wanting to label yourself, Santana," she explained. "Just do what feels right to you. If you feel like pursuing a handsome man, do that. If a beautiful woman catches your eye next, do that." She smiled, moving to sit beside Santana and lean against the wall, "Sometimes it's best to just follow your heart and ignore the slings and arrows of naysayers."

"I doubt I'll be interested in anyone... again." She sighed and leaned back, "I'm not exactly pleasant."

"Stuff and nonsense. You simply have a thorny exterior. Anyone who bothers to take the time to find their way through the maze will no doubt find the beautiful princess and not a dragon," she teased, making a heavy handed Disney reference to try and cheer Santana up a bit.

"That made me want to puke," Santana remarked.

"Puking is moderately better than crying I suppose?" she suggested hesitantly. "I was trying to make you laugh though. I thought the comparison to a Disney princess would be bizarre enough to elicit such a response. Though you are a fitting subject to represent Sleeping Beauty, I must admit."

"Seriously! Just ‘cause I get high and pass out sometimes..." She grumbled as she looked up when she heard the thump of a wheelchair hitting the doorframe. She saw Quinn and jumped up, "Don't go slamming into shit, Quinn."

"I was actually referring to your beauty not your tendency towards somnolence," Rachel mumbled, climbing to her feet and going over to open the door further so Quinn could get in. "Do you need any assistance?"

"I'm fine," Quinn smiled once she got inside, "Artie showed me all the ramps in the school." She said as she rolled closer to the centre of the room.

"Should you be doing that? You should just be moving as little as you can... you'll hurt yourself more." Santana said worriedly.

"Seriously, Quinn, both myself and no doubt Santana here are available to assist you with your conveyance," Rachel asked, fretting. "I'm certain I could get Noah to assist as well if necessary."

"I'm learning to do it myself." Quinn smiled and looked at Santana.

"How many painkillers did you take?" Santana asked, as she realized what was off about her friend.

"Four," her eyes crossed slightly as she thought then she smiled at Santana, "no, five. I took another at lunch since my back was sore after the ramps. They are terribly steep here! You really have to lean into it to get up them!"

"Quinn, I doubt you should be doing that!" Rachel chided. "You should have called, I would have been more than happy to assist I assure you."

Santana kneeled down and put her hands on Quinn's knees. "Did you eat anything?" She asked softly, knowing how to handle taking too many pills.

Quinn stared at the ceiling for a moment with the same bright smile, "I had.... water," she nodded slowly, "aaaand an apple. It was sliced up."

Rachel looked concernedly between them. "Is she okay, Santana? She seems... off."

"I'm fine, Rach," Quinn grinned at her. "I'm wonderful."

Santana reached around to Quinn's backpack and pulled out the peanut butter and jelly sandwich. "Eat this for me?" She asked softly as she ran her hand over Quinn's face, "Then we're gonna head out."

Quinn frowned at the sandwich and sighed heavily. "Okay. But only for you." Opening the plastic wrap, she took a messy bite and started chewing.

"What's going on?" Rachel tried again, beginning to get really worried.

"That many pills will fuck with her stomach," Santana whispered, "She shouldn't be able to feel her back through that. Fuck, we could do surgery on her on five pills... I'm taking her to the doctor."

"Let me help," she insisted, gathering their bags. "If she's potentially exacerbated her injury, you'll need to avoid jostling her as much as possible and that'll be easier with two individuals working in tandem than one at our weight. Unless you would prefer I attempt to summon Noah to assist?"

"Can you go get my car?" Santana asked nervously, "I... I want to stay with her."

"Definitely," she nodded, holding out a hand for the keys Santana kept in her jacket pocket. "Um... you won't get in trouble with a permit driver right?" she bit her lip, suddenly embarrassed about not having her license yet.

"Doesn't matter right now," Santana said as she wiped Quinn's face with her sleeve. "You're gross," she teased her friend, trying to not worry about the medications running through her. "You're higher than me right now, I'm impressed."

Rachel took the keys once Santana finally handed them to her and hurried off to find her car and drive it over closer to the entrance near the choir room. Quinn rolled her head to stare at Santana with drugged fondness.

"Have I ever told you you're beautiful?" she asked slightly blurrily. "Rachel says I'm pretty, but you're totally beautiful. Way prettier than me."

"No," Santana said softly as she pushed back Quinn's hair. "You're stunning, you always have been."

"You're prettier though," she smiled at Santana reaching a slightly sticky hand for her cheek. "I always wanted to look like you."

"You shouldn't," She smiled sadly, "You are amazingly stunning. I'm gonna make sure you know that everyday okay?"

"Don't be dumb," she whispered, leaning in awkwardly stiff in her back brace and trying to pull Santana into a kiss.

Santana kissed her friend softly, "Stop only wanting to do that when you're stoned," she whispered as she pushed the girl's bangs back. She looked at Quinn for a moment and smiled sadly before wheeling her over to the side exit with a ramp.

"Only brave enough when I'm high," Quinn mumbled, still smiling vaguely. "Where we going?"

Rachel pulled up outside the exit and hopped out to come running up the ramp so she could help. "She's okay right?" she asked worriedly, helping Santana ease the girl down the ramp.

"Q, school's over we're going to your doctor's appointment," Santana lied as she got the seat positioned right before she locked the chair. "Be really still okay? You do this every day, just don't try to help."

Rachel moved to Quinn's other side when Santana nodded at her and copied her position. On the count of three the two of them lifted the taller girl and carefully eased her into the passenger seat. She reached over and buckled Quinn in, "Please be still, Quinn. I'm going to help today. Is that okay?"

"Yeah, get in the back if you wanna come," Santana said as she looked over at Quinn. "Tell me a story, Quinn." Santana asked, hoping to keep the girl occupied so that she wouldn't fall asleep when they were driving. Rachel climbed in the back seat and watched nervously as Santana started driving.

"A story?" Quinn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion. "I don't understand."

"Just make something up, tell me about... fuck I don't know, how you first met me... or what you think Yale will be like." She asked softly as she reached over and took Quinn's hand. "Anything."

She narrowed her eyes in thought before giggling. "How about the epic story of how one Finn Hudson com... completely sucks in bed?"

In the backseat, Rachel gasped and looked slightly hurt. She hadn't known that Quinn had been with her fiance as well, though she assumed it was while they were dating. Yet another thing Finn had never told her.

"Oh, blondie, I think we all know that one," She said. "I didn't know you hooked up with him. That's gross. I thought you knew better. Did you sleep with Trouty?"

"Uh-uh," she shook her head, "Just Finnocence and Puckerman. Both were bad bad ideas but I made Finn wear a rubber. No more guys shooting in me without a jacket!" she insisted, gesturing randomly in front of her, before looking at Santana seriously. "Never, ever trust a Jewish boy to wear a rubber when he says to trust him."

"Alright," she laughed softly. "I was always on the pill... but can we not talk about some dude unloading in your junk? I kinda don't want to puke in my car." Rachel looked between the friends, her jaw dropped in horror of the realization as well as the conversational topic.

"What? I thought you'd like talking about my junk," Quinn slurred with a teasing grin.

"Um, can we please change the topic?" Rachel asked softly. "While I now realize that both of you have been with my fiance sexually, I would prefer not to know the details. The general knowledge of it being rather, um... quick and to the point, is sufficient, don't you think?"

"Sorry," Santana said, "Stumbles, you should focus on Puckerman's sweet humpings or Sam's lady lips if you feel the need to talk about your new found whorey nature." She said with a squeeze to the blonde's hand, "It's not polite to talk about Finn the giant with Berry in the car."

"Why not?" she asked craning her head to try and look back at Rachel. "You should know what you're getting into by being so epically stupid as to tie yourself to him. He's gonna drag you down and you'll never ever get out of Lima if you marry him."

"Quinn!" Santana exclaimed as she pulled to the side of the road. "Eyes fucking straight ahead and lay the fuck off! This is not the time."

"It's alright, Santana," Rachel murmured from the backseat. "I'm beginning to believe she may be right. You and her aren't the only ones to tell me so. But for right now let us focus upon Quinn's continued well-being by transporting her to the doctor forthwith."

Santana leaned over and worked on getting Quinn's body straight again. "You going to behave?"

Quinn sighed and pouted, "Fine. But I don't have better stories."

Santana sat back and started driving again, "Tell me what you want to major in at Yale."

"I don't know," she groaned, reaching up to rub her face, only to be stopped by Santana's hand on her wrist. "Maybe teaching? Or law? Or... I don't know. Think I could be an actor like Berry?"

"Yes," Santana said without a shadow of a doubt, "But, I think you could be an amazing teacher as well." She smiled and rubbed the girl's hand. "You can do whatever you want."

"Maybe I'll just teach acting," she suggested with a little laugh and a teasing smile. "How hard can it be?"

In the backseat, Rachel huffed just as she'd expected. "I'll have you know that acting is a very respected and rigorous profession that requires the utmost of dedication, perseverance and talent!"

"And Quinn has all of those things, that's why I think you'd be a good actor. But I think that teaching would be cool too," Santana snapped.

"There is nothing to be ashamed of in the profession of teaching, despite our appallingly mediocre examples at McKinley," Rachel began, "but to suggest that she should teach acting because it is easy? Honestly!"

"Calm your tiny tits, Berry." She exclaimed as she looked over into the mirror. "Not all of us have known what they wanted to be since they were born. My Mother is a teacher, there ain't nothing wrong with it."

Quinn giggled in the passenger seat, letting her head roll back to rest on the headrest as Rachel fumed in the back.

"I never said there was anything wrong with teaching!" Rachel snapped, "It's an honorable and respected, if unfortunately compensated, profession. But that doesn't mean that one should embark upon the path of becoming an instructor with the expectation that it will be easy and one should not also suggest that teaching an art such as acting would be easy as well!"

Santana looked over at Quinn, "You're evil," She smiled and squeezed the girl's hand as she pulled into the hospital's parking lot. "Alright Q, my dad's working... he can call your doctor for you."

"Thought it was time for my appointment," she frowned reaching for the seatbelt buckle as Rachel hopped out and scurried to get the chair out of the back. "Shouldn't he be here already?"

"He is," Santana smiled, "Don't worry about it? Just relax and we'll get you settled." She explained as she carefully eased Quinn out of the car and held her until Rachel could help slip her into the chair.

Hurrying ahead to open the doors so Santana wouldn't have to worry about it, Rachel watched her push her up the ramp. "Is there anything at all I can do?" she asked worriedly.

"Can you stay with her while I find my father?" Santana asked, not wanting to talk to him in front of Rachel and Quinn.

"Of course, Santana." Rachel smiled as they headed into the waiting room, reassured at having a task. "Do you want anything, Quinn? There's a vending machine here. I could get you a beverage or possibly a snack?"

The blonde watched Santana walk off, "Where is San going?" She asked as her eyes followed the red and white fabric of the girl's uniform swishing through the corridor of the hospital.

"To find her father," Rachel shrugged. "She asked me to keep you company while she's looking for him."

"Oh," Quinn nodded as she looked up to Rachel. "My back hurts, I'm glad my doctor appointment is today..."

Santana turned the corner and took a breath and rapped her knuckles against the wood of the door. She waited until she heard her father's deep voice telling her to come in. "Hi Papi." She greeted him timidly.

"Santana," he frowned. "What are you doing here when you should be in school?"

"Quinn's sick, she... she took too many painkillers because she over exerted herself at school in her wheelchair," she breathed and stood back against the door. "She said her back was still hurting... but she shouldn't be able to feel it. Can... can you get her admitted and call her doctor?"

His frown deepened. "If she's that debilitated, then the school or her mother should have called, not you. She is not your responsibility. Your education, on the other hand, is and I am disappointed to find you neglecting it to play with your foolish friends."

"Dad... you... please," Santana said, "Please... I'm missing my study hall and lunch. I promise I'm not missing anything important. She's sick..."

"Then she needs to learn to take care of herself," he stood, shrugging into his lab coat and picking up his notebook. "I'll see if it's worth admitting her this time, but I had better not find you here during the day again, young lady. Do you understand me? I will not tolerate truancy being added to your embarrassment of our family."

"I promise," She stated as she slipped out of the room and followed her father with her head down.

"Hello, Quinn," he smiled as he stepped into the waiting room. "I understand you're not feeling well."

Santana stood behind him crossing her arms as she watched carefully, "Dr. Lopez?" Quinn blinked as she looked at Santana then the older man. "My back hurts, I took more medicine so it wouldn't but it didn't work."

"Well, you shouldn't do that," he murmured, wheeling her chair back to an examination room and glaring at Santana to stay put with Rachel in the waiting room. "I've asked for your primary to be paged, but how about you tell me why your back is hurting?"

"I was back to school and Artie asked if he could show me all the ramps," She explained, "Why can't San and Rachel come with me?"

"Because they should be in school and this is about your care, not theirs," he explained. "There is no point in patient-doctor confidentiality when there are numerous witnesses after all. Now, can you tell me why being shown the ramps would cause your back to hurt?"

"Because... I had to lean really far to push myself up." she explained, moving forward to show him but crying out slightly.

"Okay," he pushed her back upright, "I need you to not do that anymore. If you need to get up a ramp, ask for assistance if it's too steep. Don't lean forward, not matter who tells you to." He crouched down in front of her and looked at her seriously, "You have to keep your back straight. I can't stress this enough, Quinn. That's why you have a brace on. If you can't keep your back straight, you'll have to go back to bed rest. Do you understand?"

"Yes," she whispered. "Can Santana come back?"

He sighed, clearly not happy with the idea. "Fine. But you are on strict orders not to move until your doctor tells you. Understand?"

She nodded nervously. "My stomach hurts," she whined as she watched him leave.

"I'll send a nurse in," he muttered as he headed out the door. When he spotted his daughter, he glared at her. "Santana, I do not ever want to see you here again unless you are physically injured, do you understand?" He frowned. "You can stay this one time but only because she asked for you. I swear, if you're trying to embarrass us again with her like you did with your other friend, college is off the table completely."

"What?!" she exclaimed. "No, she's...I'm not. I don't do that.... I won't again I promise." she tried to hide the look of pain from Rachel.

"Mr. Lopez, if you please, this is hardly the place for a discussion of that nature if you wish to avoid embarrassment," Rachel interjected. "I apologize for any perceived offense which may have occurred here, but I take full responsibility. Quinn was behaving erratically and admitted to taking more than her normal dosage of pain relievers to combat the pain of her back and Santana was the only person I could think of on short notice who was both free and had the necessary familial connections, vehicular ownership, and experience to assist in getting her help." She gave him her best pleading expression, "If there is any blame to be assigned, it's mine. I'm so sorry."

He turned his dark frown to the smaller girl for a moment before shaking her head. "Next time, call an ambulance instead of involving my family," he snapped before turning on one heel and striding off down the hall back towards his office.

Santana released her breath when he walked away. "You shouldn't have said that... Never... Tell anyone about this."

"I wasn't intending to," Rachel replied. "But there was no reason for him to yell at you in a place as public as this for truancy caused by getting a friend assistance. Particularly if he assumes your cause for assisting her has romantic ulterior motives. If he decides not to like me, then so be it. Quinn's well-being is more important to me than his displeasure with me."

"You don't have to deal with him tonight," Santana mumbled as she headed back once a nurse waved them towards where Quinn was.

She sighed softly. "I'm sorry," she whispered, following Santana back to the room. "I didn't intend to make anything worse for you..."

"My family... their no one's business." She said curtly before moving over to Quinn once a nurse and an orderly got her onto the bed. "Hey, dumbass, never take that many painkillers again."

"But it hurt," Quinn whispered, reaching for Santana's hand. "I can't concentrate on school when it hurts."

Santana nodded and took the girl's hand, "I know... You scare people who care about you when you do that though," She said softly, "Rachel and I are scared."

She looked between them and sighed. "I'm sorry. I'll just deal with the pain next time... I didn't mean to scare anyone. I just wanted the pain to stop..."

"No... Quinn, we will get you better medication," Santana said as she put a light kiss on the back of the girl's hand. "I never want you to be in pain okay?"

She smiled up at Santana, "Okay." Her head rolled to look at Rachel on the other side of the bed as she reached her free hand for her. "I didn't mean to make you worry either, Rach. Sorry."

Rachel smiled shyly and reached over to squeeze her hand. "We just want you to get better, Quinn. No more overdoing things, okay?"

Santana smiled for a moment and then pulled away and pulled her legs up in her chair. "Well... isn't this just a touching moment," She joked, "Pretty soon our junk will all start bleeding at the same time if this estrogen fest continues."

Rachel looked appalled. "Santana, that is entirely crude and disgusting."

Quinn laughed, letting go of Rachel's hand. "No, that's just San. Worried your badass rep will get damaged?" she teased.

"Nope, I'm always badass," she blinked as the doctor came in, "Q... we will go get you some food okay? Let the doctor look you over?"

She looked concerned about being left alone but nodded slowly. "Okay. Can I have bacon?"

"Yes, you may," Santana said as she leaned over and kissed Quinn's head. "We'll be back soon, don't get hurt while we're gone."

"Okay. Hurry back," she smiled wanly before turning to the doctor as they headed out.