The Way To Each Other - Chapter Eight
Title: The Way To Each Other
Author: Sio & Maura
Rating: Hard NC-17
Length: Epic (230,271)
Spoilers: This is AU. Some mentions of Seasons 1 & 2 events though handled differently than in canon.
Pairing: Santana/Quinn
Summary: Santana's life is far harder than it appears to the average viewer. Her dad's in jail and her mom turns tricks in their old family home. Worst yet, Santana herself has to do the same to keep her mom alive and food in her belly. Can Quinn save her? Or will Quinn's domineering father ruin everything? For the Glee Bang
Warnings (highlight to read): talks of suicide, angst, language, graphic het and femslash sex, non-con, dub-con, oral, vaginal, anal, pedophilia, sex work, underage prostitution, abuse, violence sexual and non, minor character death, self-harm, drug use, disease - HIV
Chapter 8
Quinn had been disconsolate for days. She'd barely spoken when the family had arrived at the farm house Aunt Rebecca shared with her best friend and business partner, Cindy Maganix. All she'd done after her father had made her help unpack her boxes from the car to the room that had been prepared for her was go into the room, close the door and curl onto the bed. She hadn't reacted when Cindy had poked her head in the room to tell her her parents were leaving, just stayed just where she was - laying on her side with her back to the door, clutching her pillow to her chest.
It was worse when she finally managed to rouse herself enough to unpack her things. Everything that had connected her to Santana was gone, thrown out in a fit of pique by a drunken Russell. She'd torn through everything, frantically searching. She didn't even have a picture of her best friend left, even her middle school yearbooks had the pages with the younger girl's smiling face torn out.
Quinn had finally broken when she realized to just what lengths her father had been willing to go to remove Santana from her life. She'd sobbed brokenly for hours until she was too tired to move and had no more tears in her to cry, though her thin body continued to shiver with dry tears. Her aunt had come in then and sat behind her, gently rubbing her back and whispering that it would be okay.
"It won't." She mumbled, her voice thick with tears. "He made me break the only promise that mattered. She needs me, Aunt Becca! She needs me and I left! He took everything!"
Quinn rolled over and buried her face in her aunt’s lap, clinging to the gentle woman. "I should have gone with her. I should have run away with her! How could I be such a horrid friend?!"
"You're not a bad friend, Quinn." She whispered, as she ran her fingers through the girl's hair. "You'll see her again. You gave her the address so hopefully she'll write you and maybe we can bring her here for the summer when she's done with school?" Rebecca didn't know Santana's past, she didn't know that Santana hasn't been to school in a long time and the only reason she kept going was because of Quinn. She wanted her niece to be okay, she wanted her to not sob anymore. "Come on, sweetness, let's get you some cocoa and food."
Quinn shook her head, not wanting to move. "You don't know. She won't be okay. Her mom's dead and," her breath caught in her throat, "and her dad's in prison and she's all alone now! She's hurt and alone and he made me leave! I promised her I wouldn't leave her!"
She rolled to look up at her aunt, tears streaking her cheeks, "I promised, Aunt Becca. Doesn't that mean anything in this family?"
"She'll be okay, Quinny." She whispered, pressing a kissing her forehead. "She'll be okay. You said she's with her coach right? I'm sure she'll make sure she's okay... maybe... do you want to call her? Call Santana?" She offered, fishing her cell phone out of her pocket.
Quinn shook her head, her face falling. "I can't. I don't know Sue's number and Daddy took my phone when he left. He took my phone, he took her photos. He even took the charm bracelet she gave me in middle school, Aunt Becca! He took everything..."
"My... my brother is an ass, Quinn. I'm sorry." She whispered as she pushed blonde hair back behind the girl's ear. "I let him bring you here because I thought maybe we can help you... Cindy and I... we're a lot more accepting then Russell."
She sighed and ran her finger through her own hair. "We'll find Santana okay?"
"I don't know how," Quinn whispered, admitting her fear, "She won't stay with Sue, her mom made her sell herself. I don't want her to have to do that any more, but it's all she knows. What if she starts again to have food or a place to stay?"
"She's... she's your age." Rebecca gasped, covering her mouth. "She did that? Oh my god." She swallowed and wracked her brain to figure out how to find the girl she had never even met. "That's sick and wrong. No one.. she's a little girl."
"She's younger than me," Quinn whispered, "but she's my friend, Aunt Becca. The only one who ever made me feel good about myself." She pushed herself up and leaned against her aunt, "I just wanted to help her but I can't."
"We'll find her, hun." Rebecca smiled and hugged the girl. "Come on, let's get you some food. Cindy made chili."
Santana looked out at the long driveway as she said goodbye to the seven women who had prayed with and for her and made her think about going to church again. She smiled as she got out of the van and hobbled towards the door. She wore jeans and a white t-shirt with one of Sue's track jackets, and she was shivering violently in the freezing cold as she stood in the two feet of snow around the farm. Santana looked around and prayed that this was the right place because she didn't have it in her to keep looking. Santana raised her hand and rapped at the door and closed her eyes and prayed.
The door creaked open and a cheerful looking woman with red hair and freckles opened the door. "Why, hello there." She looked out to the cleared driveway for a car, frowning when she didn't see one. "Oh my gosh, you must be freezing dressed like that!" She stepped back to let Santana in. "Come in out of the cold and you can warm up some. Did you have an accident on the road? Do you need me to call someone?"
Santana's teeth chattered as she came into the house. "Q-quinn." She exclaimed as she looked around the room. "Where is Quinn... You can't have her. Where is Quinn?" She looked panicked for a moment because she didn't know what kind of people Quinn was with she just knew she needed to see the blonde again. It had been five days and a long five days at that.
"Hold on now," the woman looked concerned, "warm up a bit first. You know my niece?"
"I need Quinn. She needs to be okay. Tell me where she is!" the small girl was red with aggression. "You took her away and I need to find her, I need Quinn!"
"Hey! I didn't take anyone away!" The woman held up her hands taking a step back before Santana's appearance and what she was saying clicked, "Oh my gosh! Are you Santana?!" She looked thrilled, "Are you really her?"
Santana was exhausted, her body not holding her up well so she leaned against the wall. "Please. I need Quinn to be here." She said, her scary attitude faltering and she looked just lost. "I need to find her."
There was the sound of a door opening and closing somewhere in the house. "Becca, I thought I heard a car outside, we got guests?"
Rebecca couldn't take her disbelieving eyes from Santana as she called back over her shoulder, "You better believe it, but you are never going to guess who!"
The sound of footsteps came closer. Then there was a gasp and the sound of something falling to the ground. "San!"
Quinn's voice cracked with disbelief but it didn't stop her from throwing herself at her best friend. "Santana, you're here? You're really here?"
Santana crumbled into Quinn's arms and held her tightly. "I found you." She whispered into the blonde’s neck. "I found you." She closed her eyes and let the bad of the last five days fall away the minute she felt those warm arms wrap around her. Santana pulled away and rested her forehead against Quinn's. "Hi," she whispered.
"Hi," Quinn whispered back, disbelieving smile firmly in place. "How? We're so far from Lima..." she shook her head, "It doesn't matter. I thought I'd never see you again, San!"
She hugged her tight, burying her face in the crook of the smaller girl's neck. "I've missed you so much," she whispered against tanned skin, her voice trembling with tears, "I'm so glad you're here..."
"I told you I'd come get you." Santana reminded her, "Just cuz you left doesn't mean I wouldn't follow you... It took five days... but I found you." She sniffled and looked at Quinn. "I found you."
"Thank you," Quinn whispered into her neck, "Thank you for coming for me."
"Quinn, sweetie, why don't you take your friend up to your room to get cleaned up and she can join us for dinner in a bit if she feels up to it," Rebecca broke in, giving Cindy a quick hug as she came into the room.
Santana looked up and rested her chin on the blonde’s shoulder. She looked at the other two women and hid from their gaze in Quinn's hair. She didn't like when people looked at her, didn't know what they knew or if they were like Russell. She just knew she needed to get Quinn out.
"Come on, San," Quinn pulled back smiling like everything was perfect now that she had her best friend back, "do you need help up the stairs?"
Santana shook her head no and followed Quinn up the stairs with the last of her strength. When they got into Quinn's room, Santana looked at her, "Get your stuff we can leave tonight... We can get out of here we can go away..."
Quinn stopped where she had been gathering up some bathroom things for Santana and looked at the other girl in shock. "What? Why? We can stay here, San. We're safe here."
"They're still your family. They'll tell your dad I found you! We're not safe until we get away from everyone!" She gasped, nearly panicking, "We need to go!"
Quinn blinked at Santana, her jaw hanging open. "Santana, Aunt Becca is gay and barely speaks to my father."
Santana whimpered, not really knowing what the woman being gay had to do with anything. "I wanna go.. I just wanna take you away. I was so scared when I lost you and I left and I needed you and I needed you to be safe."
"I promise you, Santana. I'm safe here," she reached out and pulled her friend into a tight hug. "You're safe here. Come on, you'll feel better after a bath. Bubbles and everything. Sound good?"
San just held onto her and let Quinn pick her up and carry her into the bathroom. She held her until she was brought into the bathroom and she put her legs down. She let Quinn strip her and tried to ignore the swelling in her hips from walking when she shouldn't have. Quinn got her pants off finally and helped her out of her shirt. She watched as Quinn started the bath and she just held onto the sink and looked at her sunken features in the mirror. She didn't recognize herself - she hadn't looked in a mirror in months.
"I look like a corpse." Santana whispered, as she examined herself.
After getting the bath going, Quinn stepped up behind Santana and hugged her. "You look like someone in terrible pain who's somehow managed to get from Lima, Ohio all the way to Goshen, Vermont on her own in five days to make her best friend happy again." She smiled at Santana's reflection and leaned up to kiss her cheek, "So I think you look perfect. Ready to get in the bath?"
Santana sighed and nodded as she let Quinn help her get into the water. She rested her cast on the the side of the tub as she looked straight ahead. The water felt so good against her aching body, after a few minutes of silence she looked at her gross looking cast. "I think I need a new cast." She said softly as she turned her head to look at the blonde.
"I think you need a new doctor," Quinn teased, sitting down beside the tub and resting her head on San's arm. "My aunt and her partner Cindy are good people, San. She won't make you leave or tell Daddy."
"Can... can I just take the cast off? It slides off anyway." She remarked as she looked at the girl, After a few moments she ran her good hand through blonde hair and sighed, "I was scared that I'd never find you..."
"Don't. Let Cindy check it in the morning." Quinn cautioned, "And if you hadn't found me, I was going to come find you. Aunt Becca had already promised me that we'd find you and bring you home."
Santana smiled and closed her eyes slightly. "I went to West Virginia and upstate New York... It's really pretty outside of Lima." She whispered not wanting Quinn to know about the second driver she went with. "Then I drove with nuns... like Sister Mary Margaret at church when we were little but... nice."
"Nuns brought my best friend home?" Quinn looked disbelieving, "Really? Perhaps we should consider asking Aunt Becca and Cindy to take us to church on Sunday so I can say thanks."
Santana giggled softly, "Maybe. God owes us a few favors though so lets not get too thankful..." She replied as she splashed a bit of water at Quinn. "Can you wash my hair? It's like gross and in a knot."
"Yeah, sure," Quinn shifted until she was on her knees and grabbed the shampoo from off the ledge. Using a cup to sluice water over Santana's head and wet her hair, she poured some shampoo into her palm and started massaging it into Santana's scalp, lightly scratching with her nails. "By the way, you do realize I was right, don't you?" She smirked teasingly at Santana, "We did both get out of Lima."
Santana moaned softly at the feeling of having her hair washed before she answered with a slight smirk. "You got forced out, princess." Santana replied, "I just followed you..." She closed her eyes and slumped into Quinn's hands, she let the water lap over her body getting all the bad things off her that were left over from Lima. "I set fire to my house, Quinn... " She said softly the first time she admitted it to the other girl. "I went inside... she was dead. Sue left her to die..."
"Oh my god," Quinn barely kept herself from hysterical laughter, "that was you? You practically burned down Lima Heights Adjacent! That was what made Daddy decide to send me up here. I'm so sorry you had to find her, San, but you know Sue couldn't have stopped whatever happened, no matter how much she might have wanted to or not."
"That place was two days from burning itself down," Santana mumbled, "But, Quinn... she had marks like these." She motioned to her neck where the marks had just started to try to fade, "And that." She ran her finger over her scar on her hip. "She looked... she wouldn't wake up and I got mad and hit her. She was dead but I just wanted my mom to wake up." She sighed as she blinked away tears. "I wanted everything to stop hurting and that house was where all the bad stuffed happened... It had to go."
"It's okay," Quinn murmured, finishing washing Santana's hair and rinsing it out before leaning in to hug her. "Sue said she took care to the people who hurt you, San. I'm sure she got whoever hurt your mom too. I'm so sorry she's gone. I might not have liked her but she was still your mom."
Santana nodded and took Quinn's hands when she was offered them. She finally got hoisted up and out of the tub. She got a fluffy towel wrapped around her body and Quinn brought her into the bedroom. "I only have what I wore and I stole a track suit from Sue..." Santana said shyly.
Quinn snorted, "Well, I'm sure that'll go over well. Don't worry, you can borrow some of my things and then when Aunt Becca or Cindy drive into town next we can get you some things that fit you." She smiled looking at the towel wrapped Santana for a moment before grinning and scooping her up. "I am so glad you're here, San." She carried her out to the bed and put her down before going to her dresser and rooting around for some jeans and other clothes. "Here," she tossed them on the bed next to her, "they should fit though I might have to find you a belt for the jeans."
The girl nodded and picked out a pair of sweatpants and pulled them up her legs. She decided against panties because they hurt her hips and against a bra because she had lost so much weight there wasn't even a point anymore. She used her fingers to run through her long hair as she pulled on a t-shirt and looked up at Quinn. "I'm happy I'm here too... I wouldn't leave you alone..."
"Good, and just so you know, I'm carrying you down to dinner and back up here to sleep after." Quinn all but glared at her, raising a brow, "Don't think for a moment I have forgotten about your pelvis or not noticed how much trouble you're having getting around."
"I forgot my crutches... I didn't think anyone would wanna pick up a crippled girl." She shrugged as she reached her arms out so she could act like a koala on Quinn. She smiled at how warm her friend always was. "Do they have tea?" Santana asked as she rested her head on the girl's shoulder.
Quinn got her grip adjusted and carefully stood with Santana clinging to her back. "Are you okay like this? I'm not hurting you, am I?"
"I'm okay if you are." She whispered before resting her head on Quinn's shoulder as she held on. Quinn carefully descended the stairs and walked them into a kitchen where her aunts were cooking.
"That's a hell of a imitation of a backpack there, Miss Santana." Cindy smirked as she saw the girls come in the room.
When Quinn sat her on a chair, she pouted and pulled the girl closer. She got up then gently sat down down on Quinn. "Chair hurts my ass," She smirked in a whispering tone before turning back to the other women. "Uh. I had crutches but they were too hard to use with my arm." She she held up the cast and shrugged, "I do my best. It hurts but it can't hurt forever..."
"You're a pest," Quinn teased back, wrapping her arms around Santana's waist as she talked to the other women.
Cindy nudged Rebecca, nodding over at the two girls with a knowing smirk. Rebecca just rolled her eyes and turned away with an indulgent grin. "Well, it's impressive. You're quite the fighter, Santana. By the way, do you think you'd have a problem staying with Quinn for a few nights? We can set you up a room, but it'll take a bit to find furniture for it."
Santana nodded quickly, "I- I can stay?" She asked before she looked behind her to Quinn and nervously linked their fingers together. "I can... find a job and pay rent or something, but I can? I can really stay with Quinn?" She was trying to hide the smile that crept across her lips.
Cindy laughed, "In Goshen?"
"Ignore her," Rebecca shot the woman a mock glare, "but you're only fifteen, Santana. You shouldn't have to worry about things like that. Once you're back to 100% we can set you up with some chores to pitch in but Cindy and I do plenty well enough with our practices that you don't have to worry about it."
"Um... if you're sure." She said before nervously shrinking back into Quinn's arms. She rested her head against Quinn's in pure exhaustion as she listened to the women banter in the kitchen about what kids should be expected to do and what constitutes as chores. Santana ran her thumb over Quinn's palm slowly, fixated on how good the girl's skin felt and how much it made her stomach feel like it had butterflies when Quinn broke out into goosebumps.
"Are you tired?" Quinn whispered, her breath ghosting hot over Santana's ear, "I can take you up to bed now if you like. I'm sure they'll understand."
"Not more then normal." She said honestly, "It's been a long couple of days trying to get here..." She whispered back and tightened her grasp on Quinn's hands. "I just feel overwhelmed." She blinked her eyes back open and nuzzled further into Quinn's warm body.
"It's okay," Quinn nuzzled her shoulder, so pleased to be close to her again that she was showing more affection than she usually would with others around, "you're here now and you have all the time you need to adjust to being a kid again." She rested her chin on Santana's shoulder, smiling at her, "Just tell me when you're ready for bed and I'll take you, okay?"
Santana nodded and let herself relax in Quinn's arms. She nearly forgot it wasn't just the two of them anymore. She closed her eyes and turned slightly so she could cling better to her friend. After a few minutes and Santana nearly falling asleep, she whimpered "bed" softly into Quinn's neck.
Quinn nodded, looking over at the women still joking around. “Aunt Becca? I’m going to take Santana to bed now. Can we eat later?”
Rebecca smiled sadly at her niece, nodding, “Certainly, Quinnie. It’ll be in the fridge when you girls get hungry okay?” Quinn nodded and shifted her grip on Santana so she wouldn’t drop her as she carefully stood from the chair. Rebecca came over and kissed her cheek and the top of Santana’s hair before nodding at the stairs, “You take care of that little girl, Quinnie. She must have been through a lot to get to you.”
Quinn smiled softly down at the girl in her arms. “Always, Aunt Becca,” she whispered, heading up the stairs.
“They have no idea how they look, do they, Becks?” Cindy asked softly as she came over to wrap her arms around her partner’s waist and rest her chin on her shoulder as they watched the girls walk away.
Rebecca snorted softly, “Of course not. No more than we did at that age.” She gently squeezed Cindy’s arms, turning to kiss her softly. “Come on, let’s finish dinner.”
Upstairs, Quinn settled Santana gently onto the soft bed in the dim light of the room. “Do you want to change or anything first?”
Santana shook her head no and rolled onto her side. "Wi...will you stay with me?" she asked softly into the dark room. Santana was scared to be alone, lately she only slept well with Quinn by her side.
Quinn’s lips quirked into a sad smile. “Of course I will. This is my bed after all.” She leaned down to brush her lips over Santana’s cheek. “I just need to take a shower and change for bed first. Perhaps you haven’t noticed, but I’m painfully aware that I smell like the barn.”
"Like it," Santana mumbled as she melted into the pillow and wrapped her arms around it. "Shower... I'll keep the bed warm," she yawned and burrowed her head of messy hair into it.
“You would,” Quinn chuckled, brushing her fingers through Santana’s hair and making a note to grab an extra pillow out of the hall closet after her shower, “maybe Cindy will show you around the vet barn tomorrow after she takes a look at your arm and see if the cast needs replacing. Just rest, San, I’ll be right back. I promise.” She gently squeezed Santana’s upper arm before heading into the bathroom, pushing the door just too but not closing it completely. The soft sounds of falling water trickled into the room shortly after.
Santana lay awake in the bed, her eyes remaining open despite the fact she was exhausted. She was unfamiliar with sleeping in a bed - she slept on a futon at Sue's and prior to that, wherever she could. She was truly warm for the first time in a long time as she snuggled into blankets that smelled like the girl she traveled five days to see. She sighed softly as she got up carefully and found her bag. She pulled out the lamb that had been hidden in the bottom before getting back into bed and snuggling the toy.
Quinn came out a little later wrapped in a towel. Stepping into the hall for a moment, she returned with another fluffy white pillow, setting it on the bed before moving to get changed into her pajamas. The entire time she moved around the room, she could help but flick tiny glances across the room at Santana, making sure she was still there. But it wasn’t until she got to the bed that she realized what the smaller girl was snuggling.
“You brought Mr. Lamb,” she sounded awed as she slipped into bed, curling up behind Santana.
"Only thing that I have that means anything anymore." She whispered as she turned and faced Quinn, her head tucking under the other girl's chin. Santana was silent for a few minutes before she carefully allowed one of her arms to clutch onto Quinn's shirt. "I broke my promise."
Quinn’s arms wrapped around Santana, careful of her casted arm, “What promise?”
"That I wouldn't do anything bad anymore... but I only did it once and I couldn't find anyone else going north... I found really good other people to help me earlier and nuns... but he... he wanted me to touch him. I'm so sorry..." She started to pull away thinking that Quinn wouldn't want anything to do with her anymore.
Quinn tightened her grip, not letting Santana pull away. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly, ignoring the prickling behind her eyelids in true Fabray fashion. “Santana, I won’t lie and say I’m okay with that, but I’m not mad at you about it.” She opened her eyes and smiled at Santana, letting her see the truth of her words, “I’m mad at him for making you do that when you clearly didn’t want to. I never want you to have to be in a place where you feel you have to do that and I am so sorry you were because of me this time.” She closed her eyes again, hurting that Santana had to do that to get to her.
"I couldn't have sex if I wanted to... I just blew him and then got where I needed to go." She whispered, "I'm sorry that I let you down. I just. I wanted to find you and I needed to get to you fast and I didn't know when someone else would be going that way."
“It’s okay,” Quinn whispered, though she hated herself for allowing everything to happen that led to Santana being put in that situation, “You didn’t let me down. You’re here now and you’ll never have to do that again.” She hugged her close, praying that she was speaking the truth.
"Okay." She whispered, resting her head over Quinn's heart. "I'm still sorry... I felt guilty for the first time ever when I was doing it... I just wanted to be with you."
“It’s okay.” It was all that she could think to say as she brushed her fingers through Santana’s hair, her eyes drifting closed as the comfort of lying there with her best friend sunk into her. “You’re here now...”
Santana's breath evened out as she began to fall asleep clutching her lamb and Quinn's shirt. "Te amo." She whispered into the girl's neck before she fell into a fitful slumber.
Chapter Nine
Author: Sio & Maura
Rating: Hard NC-17
Length: Epic (230,271)
Spoilers: This is AU. Some mentions of Seasons 1 & 2 events though handled differently than in canon.
Pairing: Santana/Quinn
Summary: Santana's life is far harder than it appears to the average viewer. Her dad's in jail and her mom turns tricks in their old family home. Worst yet, Santana herself has to do the same to keep her mom alive and food in her belly. Can Quinn save her? Or will Quinn's domineering father ruin everything? For the Glee Bang
Warnings (highlight to read): talks of suicide, angst, language, graphic het and femslash sex, non-con, dub-con, oral, vaginal, anal, pedophilia, sex work, underage prostitution, abuse, violence sexual and non, minor character death, self-harm, drug use, disease - HIV
Chapter 8
Quinn had been disconsolate for days. She'd barely spoken when the family had arrived at the farm house Aunt Rebecca shared with her best friend and business partner, Cindy Maganix. All she'd done after her father had made her help unpack her boxes from the car to the room that had been prepared for her was go into the room, close the door and curl onto the bed. She hadn't reacted when Cindy had poked her head in the room to tell her her parents were leaving, just stayed just where she was - laying on her side with her back to the door, clutching her pillow to her chest.
It was worse when she finally managed to rouse herself enough to unpack her things. Everything that had connected her to Santana was gone, thrown out in a fit of pique by a drunken Russell. She'd torn through everything, frantically searching. She didn't even have a picture of her best friend left, even her middle school yearbooks had the pages with the younger girl's smiling face torn out.
Quinn had finally broken when she realized to just what lengths her father had been willing to go to remove Santana from her life. She'd sobbed brokenly for hours until she was too tired to move and had no more tears in her to cry, though her thin body continued to shiver with dry tears. Her aunt had come in then and sat behind her, gently rubbing her back and whispering that it would be okay.
"It won't." She mumbled, her voice thick with tears. "He made me break the only promise that mattered. She needs me, Aunt Becca! She needs me and I left! He took everything!"
Quinn rolled over and buried her face in her aunt’s lap, clinging to the gentle woman. "I should have gone with her. I should have run away with her! How could I be such a horrid friend?!"
"You're not a bad friend, Quinn." She whispered, as she ran her fingers through the girl's hair. "You'll see her again. You gave her the address so hopefully she'll write you and maybe we can bring her here for the summer when she's done with school?" Rebecca didn't know Santana's past, she didn't know that Santana hasn't been to school in a long time and the only reason she kept going was because of Quinn. She wanted her niece to be okay, she wanted her to not sob anymore. "Come on, sweetness, let's get you some cocoa and food."
Quinn shook her head, not wanting to move. "You don't know. She won't be okay. Her mom's dead and," her breath caught in her throat, "and her dad's in prison and she's all alone now! She's hurt and alone and he made me leave! I promised her I wouldn't leave her!"
She rolled to look up at her aunt, tears streaking her cheeks, "I promised, Aunt Becca. Doesn't that mean anything in this family?"
"She'll be okay, Quinny." She whispered, pressing a kissing her forehead. "She'll be okay. You said she's with her coach right? I'm sure she'll make sure she's okay... maybe... do you want to call her? Call Santana?" She offered, fishing her cell phone out of her pocket.
Quinn shook her head, her face falling. "I can't. I don't know Sue's number and Daddy took my phone when he left. He took my phone, he took her photos. He even took the charm bracelet she gave me in middle school, Aunt Becca! He took everything..."
"My... my brother is an ass, Quinn. I'm sorry." She whispered as she pushed blonde hair back behind the girl's ear. "I let him bring you here because I thought maybe we can help you... Cindy and I... we're a lot more accepting then Russell."
She sighed and ran her finger through her own hair. "We'll find Santana okay?"
"I don't know how," Quinn whispered, admitting her fear, "She won't stay with Sue, her mom made her sell herself. I don't want her to have to do that any more, but it's all she knows. What if she starts again to have food or a place to stay?"
"She's... she's your age." Rebecca gasped, covering her mouth. "She did that? Oh my god." She swallowed and wracked her brain to figure out how to find the girl she had never even met. "That's sick and wrong. No one.. she's a little girl."
"She's younger than me," Quinn whispered, "but she's my friend, Aunt Becca. The only one who ever made me feel good about myself." She pushed herself up and leaned against her aunt, "I just wanted to help her but I can't."
"We'll find her, hun." Rebecca smiled and hugged the girl. "Come on, let's get you some food. Cindy made chili."
Santana looked out at the long driveway as she said goodbye to the seven women who had prayed with and for her and made her think about going to church again. She smiled as she got out of the van and hobbled towards the door. She wore jeans and a white t-shirt with one of Sue's track jackets, and she was shivering violently in the freezing cold as she stood in the two feet of snow around the farm. Santana looked around and prayed that this was the right place because she didn't have it in her to keep looking. Santana raised her hand and rapped at the door and closed her eyes and prayed.
The door creaked open and a cheerful looking woman with red hair and freckles opened the door. "Why, hello there." She looked out to the cleared driveway for a car, frowning when she didn't see one. "Oh my gosh, you must be freezing dressed like that!" She stepped back to let Santana in. "Come in out of the cold and you can warm up some. Did you have an accident on the road? Do you need me to call someone?"
Santana's teeth chattered as she came into the house. "Q-quinn." She exclaimed as she looked around the room. "Where is Quinn... You can't have her. Where is Quinn?" She looked panicked for a moment because she didn't know what kind of people Quinn was with she just knew she needed to see the blonde again. It had been five days and a long five days at that.
"Hold on now," the woman looked concerned, "warm up a bit first. You know my niece?"
"I need Quinn. She needs to be okay. Tell me where she is!" the small girl was red with aggression. "You took her away and I need to find her, I need Quinn!"
"Hey! I didn't take anyone away!" The woman held up her hands taking a step back before Santana's appearance and what she was saying clicked, "Oh my gosh! Are you Santana?!" She looked thrilled, "Are you really her?"
Santana was exhausted, her body not holding her up well so she leaned against the wall. "Please. I need Quinn to be here." She said, her scary attitude faltering and she looked just lost. "I need to find her."
There was the sound of a door opening and closing somewhere in the house. "Becca, I thought I heard a car outside, we got guests?"
Rebecca couldn't take her disbelieving eyes from Santana as she called back over her shoulder, "You better believe it, but you are never going to guess who!"
The sound of footsteps came closer. Then there was a gasp and the sound of something falling to the ground. "San!"
Quinn's voice cracked with disbelief but it didn't stop her from throwing herself at her best friend. "Santana, you're here? You're really here?"
Santana crumbled into Quinn's arms and held her tightly. "I found you." She whispered into the blonde’s neck. "I found you." She closed her eyes and let the bad of the last five days fall away the minute she felt those warm arms wrap around her. Santana pulled away and rested her forehead against Quinn's. "Hi," she whispered.
"Hi," Quinn whispered back, disbelieving smile firmly in place. "How? We're so far from Lima..." she shook her head, "It doesn't matter. I thought I'd never see you again, San!"
She hugged her tight, burying her face in the crook of the smaller girl's neck. "I've missed you so much," she whispered against tanned skin, her voice trembling with tears, "I'm so glad you're here..."
"I told you I'd come get you." Santana reminded her, "Just cuz you left doesn't mean I wouldn't follow you... It took five days... but I found you." She sniffled and looked at Quinn. "I found you."
"Thank you," Quinn whispered into her neck, "Thank you for coming for me."
"Quinn, sweetie, why don't you take your friend up to your room to get cleaned up and she can join us for dinner in a bit if she feels up to it," Rebecca broke in, giving Cindy a quick hug as she came into the room.
Santana looked up and rested her chin on the blonde’s shoulder. She looked at the other two women and hid from their gaze in Quinn's hair. She didn't like when people looked at her, didn't know what they knew or if they were like Russell. She just knew she needed to get Quinn out.
"Come on, San," Quinn pulled back smiling like everything was perfect now that she had her best friend back, "do you need help up the stairs?"
Santana shook her head no and followed Quinn up the stairs with the last of her strength. When they got into Quinn's room, Santana looked at her, "Get your stuff we can leave tonight... We can get out of here we can go away..."
Quinn stopped where she had been gathering up some bathroom things for Santana and looked at the other girl in shock. "What? Why? We can stay here, San. We're safe here."
"They're still your family. They'll tell your dad I found you! We're not safe until we get away from everyone!" She gasped, nearly panicking, "We need to go!"
Quinn blinked at Santana, her jaw hanging open. "Santana, Aunt Becca is gay and barely speaks to my father."
Santana whimpered, not really knowing what the woman being gay had to do with anything. "I wanna go.. I just wanna take you away. I was so scared when I lost you and I left and I needed you and I needed you to be safe."
"I promise you, Santana. I'm safe here," she reached out and pulled her friend into a tight hug. "You're safe here. Come on, you'll feel better after a bath. Bubbles and everything. Sound good?"
San just held onto her and let Quinn pick her up and carry her into the bathroom. She held her until she was brought into the bathroom and she put her legs down. She let Quinn strip her and tried to ignore the swelling in her hips from walking when she shouldn't have. Quinn got her pants off finally and helped her out of her shirt. She watched as Quinn started the bath and she just held onto the sink and looked at her sunken features in the mirror. She didn't recognize herself - she hadn't looked in a mirror in months.
"I look like a corpse." Santana whispered, as she examined herself.
After getting the bath going, Quinn stepped up behind Santana and hugged her. "You look like someone in terrible pain who's somehow managed to get from Lima, Ohio all the way to Goshen, Vermont on her own in five days to make her best friend happy again." She smiled at Santana's reflection and leaned up to kiss her cheek, "So I think you look perfect. Ready to get in the bath?"
Santana sighed and nodded as she let Quinn help her get into the water. She rested her cast on the the side of the tub as she looked straight ahead. The water felt so good against her aching body, after a few minutes of silence she looked at her gross looking cast. "I think I need a new cast." She said softly as she turned her head to look at the blonde.
"I think you need a new doctor," Quinn teased, sitting down beside the tub and resting her head on San's arm. "My aunt and her partner Cindy are good people, San. She won't make you leave or tell Daddy."
"Can... can I just take the cast off? It slides off anyway." She remarked as she looked at the girl, After a few moments she ran her good hand through blonde hair and sighed, "I was scared that I'd never find you..."
"Don't. Let Cindy check it in the morning." Quinn cautioned, "And if you hadn't found me, I was going to come find you. Aunt Becca had already promised me that we'd find you and bring you home."
Santana smiled and closed her eyes slightly. "I went to West Virginia and upstate New York... It's really pretty outside of Lima." She whispered not wanting Quinn to know about the second driver she went with. "Then I drove with nuns... like Sister Mary Margaret at church when we were little but... nice."
"Nuns brought my best friend home?" Quinn looked disbelieving, "Really? Perhaps we should consider asking Aunt Becca and Cindy to take us to church on Sunday so I can say thanks."
Santana giggled softly, "Maybe. God owes us a few favors though so lets not get too thankful..." She replied as she splashed a bit of water at Quinn. "Can you wash my hair? It's like gross and in a knot."
"Yeah, sure," Quinn shifted until she was on her knees and grabbed the shampoo from off the ledge. Using a cup to sluice water over Santana's head and wet her hair, she poured some shampoo into her palm and started massaging it into Santana's scalp, lightly scratching with her nails. "By the way, you do realize I was right, don't you?" She smirked teasingly at Santana, "We did both get out of Lima."
Santana moaned softly at the feeling of having her hair washed before she answered with a slight smirk. "You got forced out, princess." Santana replied, "I just followed you..." She closed her eyes and slumped into Quinn's hands, she let the water lap over her body getting all the bad things off her that were left over from Lima. "I set fire to my house, Quinn... " She said softly the first time she admitted it to the other girl. "I went inside... she was dead. Sue left her to die..."
"Oh my god," Quinn barely kept herself from hysterical laughter, "that was you? You practically burned down Lima Heights Adjacent! That was what made Daddy decide to send me up here. I'm so sorry you had to find her, San, but you know Sue couldn't have stopped whatever happened, no matter how much she might have wanted to or not."
"That place was two days from burning itself down," Santana mumbled, "But, Quinn... she had marks like these." She motioned to her neck where the marks had just started to try to fade, "And that." She ran her finger over her scar on her hip. "She looked... she wouldn't wake up and I got mad and hit her. She was dead but I just wanted my mom to wake up." She sighed as she blinked away tears. "I wanted everything to stop hurting and that house was where all the bad stuffed happened... It had to go."
"It's okay," Quinn murmured, finishing washing Santana's hair and rinsing it out before leaning in to hug her. "Sue said she took care to the people who hurt you, San. I'm sure she got whoever hurt your mom too. I'm so sorry she's gone. I might not have liked her but she was still your mom."
Santana nodded and took Quinn's hands when she was offered them. She finally got hoisted up and out of the tub. She got a fluffy towel wrapped around her body and Quinn brought her into the bedroom. "I only have what I wore and I stole a track suit from Sue..." Santana said shyly.
Quinn snorted, "Well, I'm sure that'll go over well. Don't worry, you can borrow some of my things and then when Aunt Becca or Cindy drive into town next we can get you some things that fit you." She smiled looking at the towel wrapped Santana for a moment before grinning and scooping her up. "I am so glad you're here, San." She carried her out to the bed and put her down before going to her dresser and rooting around for some jeans and other clothes. "Here," she tossed them on the bed next to her, "they should fit though I might have to find you a belt for the jeans."
The girl nodded and picked out a pair of sweatpants and pulled them up her legs. She decided against panties because they hurt her hips and against a bra because she had lost so much weight there wasn't even a point anymore. She used her fingers to run through her long hair as she pulled on a t-shirt and looked up at Quinn. "I'm happy I'm here too... I wouldn't leave you alone..."
"Good, and just so you know, I'm carrying you down to dinner and back up here to sleep after." Quinn all but glared at her, raising a brow, "Don't think for a moment I have forgotten about your pelvis or not noticed how much trouble you're having getting around."
"I forgot my crutches... I didn't think anyone would wanna pick up a crippled girl." She shrugged as she reached her arms out so she could act like a koala on Quinn. She smiled at how warm her friend always was. "Do they have tea?" Santana asked as she rested her head on the girl's shoulder.
Quinn got her grip adjusted and carefully stood with Santana clinging to her back. "Are you okay like this? I'm not hurting you, am I?"
"I'm okay if you are." She whispered before resting her head on Quinn's shoulder as she held on. Quinn carefully descended the stairs and walked them into a kitchen where her aunts were cooking.
"That's a hell of a imitation of a backpack there, Miss Santana." Cindy smirked as she saw the girls come in the room.
When Quinn sat her on a chair, she pouted and pulled the girl closer. She got up then gently sat down down on Quinn. "Chair hurts my ass," She smirked in a whispering tone before turning back to the other women. "Uh. I had crutches but they were too hard to use with my arm." She she held up the cast and shrugged, "I do my best. It hurts but it can't hurt forever..."
"You're a pest," Quinn teased back, wrapping her arms around Santana's waist as she talked to the other women.
Cindy nudged Rebecca, nodding over at the two girls with a knowing smirk. Rebecca just rolled her eyes and turned away with an indulgent grin. "Well, it's impressive. You're quite the fighter, Santana. By the way, do you think you'd have a problem staying with Quinn for a few nights? We can set you up a room, but it'll take a bit to find furniture for it."
Santana nodded quickly, "I- I can stay?" She asked before she looked behind her to Quinn and nervously linked their fingers together. "I can... find a job and pay rent or something, but I can? I can really stay with Quinn?" She was trying to hide the smile that crept across her lips.
Cindy laughed, "In Goshen?"
"Ignore her," Rebecca shot the woman a mock glare, "but you're only fifteen, Santana. You shouldn't have to worry about things like that. Once you're back to 100% we can set you up with some chores to pitch in but Cindy and I do plenty well enough with our practices that you don't have to worry about it."
"Um... if you're sure." She said before nervously shrinking back into Quinn's arms. She rested her head against Quinn's in pure exhaustion as she listened to the women banter in the kitchen about what kids should be expected to do and what constitutes as chores. Santana ran her thumb over Quinn's palm slowly, fixated on how good the girl's skin felt and how much it made her stomach feel like it had butterflies when Quinn broke out into goosebumps.
"Are you tired?" Quinn whispered, her breath ghosting hot over Santana's ear, "I can take you up to bed now if you like. I'm sure they'll understand."
"Not more then normal." She said honestly, "It's been a long couple of days trying to get here..." She whispered back and tightened her grasp on Quinn's hands. "I just feel overwhelmed." She blinked her eyes back open and nuzzled further into Quinn's warm body.
"It's okay," Quinn nuzzled her shoulder, so pleased to be close to her again that she was showing more affection than she usually would with others around, "you're here now and you have all the time you need to adjust to being a kid again." She rested her chin on Santana's shoulder, smiling at her, "Just tell me when you're ready for bed and I'll take you, okay?"
Santana nodded and let herself relax in Quinn's arms. She nearly forgot it wasn't just the two of them anymore. She closed her eyes and turned slightly so she could cling better to her friend. After a few minutes and Santana nearly falling asleep, she whimpered "bed" softly into Quinn's neck.
Quinn nodded, looking over at the women still joking around. “Aunt Becca? I’m going to take Santana to bed now. Can we eat later?”
Rebecca smiled sadly at her niece, nodding, “Certainly, Quinnie. It’ll be in the fridge when you girls get hungry okay?” Quinn nodded and shifted her grip on Santana so she wouldn’t drop her as she carefully stood from the chair. Rebecca came over and kissed her cheek and the top of Santana’s hair before nodding at the stairs, “You take care of that little girl, Quinnie. She must have been through a lot to get to you.”
Quinn smiled softly down at the girl in her arms. “Always, Aunt Becca,” she whispered, heading up the stairs.
“They have no idea how they look, do they, Becks?” Cindy asked softly as she came over to wrap her arms around her partner’s waist and rest her chin on her shoulder as they watched the girls walk away.
Rebecca snorted softly, “Of course not. No more than we did at that age.” She gently squeezed Cindy’s arms, turning to kiss her softly. “Come on, let’s finish dinner.”
Upstairs, Quinn settled Santana gently onto the soft bed in the dim light of the room. “Do you want to change or anything first?”
Santana shook her head no and rolled onto her side. "Wi...will you stay with me?" she asked softly into the dark room. Santana was scared to be alone, lately she only slept well with Quinn by her side.
Quinn’s lips quirked into a sad smile. “Of course I will. This is my bed after all.” She leaned down to brush her lips over Santana’s cheek. “I just need to take a shower and change for bed first. Perhaps you haven’t noticed, but I’m painfully aware that I smell like the barn.”
"Like it," Santana mumbled as she melted into the pillow and wrapped her arms around it. "Shower... I'll keep the bed warm," she yawned and burrowed her head of messy hair into it.
“You would,” Quinn chuckled, brushing her fingers through Santana’s hair and making a note to grab an extra pillow out of the hall closet after her shower, “maybe Cindy will show you around the vet barn tomorrow after she takes a look at your arm and see if the cast needs replacing. Just rest, San, I’ll be right back. I promise.” She gently squeezed Santana’s upper arm before heading into the bathroom, pushing the door just too but not closing it completely. The soft sounds of falling water trickled into the room shortly after.
Santana lay awake in the bed, her eyes remaining open despite the fact she was exhausted. She was unfamiliar with sleeping in a bed - she slept on a futon at Sue's and prior to that, wherever she could. She was truly warm for the first time in a long time as she snuggled into blankets that smelled like the girl she traveled five days to see. She sighed softly as she got up carefully and found her bag. She pulled out the lamb that had been hidden in the bottom before getting back into bed and snuggling the toy.
Quinn came out a little later wrapped in a towel. Stepping into the hall for a moment, she returned with another fluffy white pillow, setting it on the bed before moving to get changed into her pajamas. The entire time she moved around the room, she could help but flick tiny glances across the room at Santana, making sure she was still there. But it wasn’t until she got to the bed that she realized what the smaller girl was snuggling.
“You brought Mr. Lamb,” she sounded awed as she slipped into bed, curling up behind Santana.
"Only thing that I have that means anything anymore." She whispered as she turned and faced Quinn, her head tucking under the other girl's chin. Santana was silent for a few minutes before she carefully allowed one of her arms to clutch onto Quinn's shirt. "I broke my promise."
Quinn’s arms wrapped around Santana, careful of her casted arm, “What promise?”
"That I wouldn't do anything bad anymore... but I only did it once and I couldn't find anyone else going north... I found really good other people to help me earlier and nuns... but he... he wanted me to touch him. I'm so sorry..." She started to pull away thinking that Quinn wouldn't want anything to do with her anymore.
Quinn tightened her grip, not letting Santana pull away. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly, ignoring the prickling behind her eyelids in true Fabray fashion. “Santana, I won’t lie and say I’m okay with that, but I’m not mad at you about it.” She opened her eyes and smiled at Santana, letting her see the truth of her words, “I’m mad at him for making you do that when you clearly didn’t want to. I never want you to have to be in a place where you feel you have to do that and I am so sorry you were because of me this time.” She closed her eyes again, hurting that Santana had to do that to get to her.
"I couldn't have sex if I wanted to... I just blew him and then got where I needed to go." She whispered, "I'm sorry that I let you down. I just. I wanted to find you and I needed to get to you fast and I didn't know when someone else would be going that way."
“It’s okay,” Quinn whispered, though she hated herself for allowing everything to happen that led to Santana being put in that situation, “You didn’t let me down. You’re here now and you’ll never have to do that again.” She hugged her close, praying that she was speaking the truth.
"Okay." She whispered, resting her head over Quinn's heart. "I'm still sorry... I felt guilty for the first time ever when I was doing it... I just wanted to be with you."
“It’s okay.” It was all that she could think to say as she brushed her fingers through Santana’s hair, her eyes drifting closed as the comfort of lying there with her best friend sunk into her. “You’re here now...”
Santana's breath evened out as she began to fall asleep clutching her lamb and Quinn's shirt. "Te amo." She whispered into the girl's neck before she fell into a fitful slumber.
Chapter Nine