Trusting You to Catch Me - Chapter Seventeen
Title: Trusting You to Catch Me
Author: Sio & Maura
Rating: NC-17
Length: 98,783
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 17
He'd found out about the trip the girls were planning in the last way he ever would have expected. An email from his ex-wife. He'd opened it, read it, and then promptly deleted it to avoid the possibility of having to listen to Cherie harangue him for an hour because he was talking to Daniella. He'd sat at his desk cradling his head in his hands as he tried to think of something to do - to say - to make anything better between him and his little girl.
He sighed, running his fingers through his grey streaked hair. He never should have married Cherie. Never should have even gotten involved with her. But it was too late now.
Pulling an envelope and paper from his desk, he picked up his pen and started to write.
It had taken some asking around before he managed to find out that Santana had been staying off and on with her friend Quinn since graduation. Once he did, he'd headed there as soon as Cherie left for her rounds - though what any Mary Kay door-to-door salesperson had any right using such pretentious terms he had no idea. He pulled out his phone and looked at the photo of his smiling daughter as she accepted her diploma sadly before putting it away and steeling himself to knock on the door.
After a few minutes, and the sound of a wheelchair hitting a table; Quinn opened the door. She looked at the man and crossed her arms, "Can I help you?"
"Perhaps," he glanced past her hopefully. "Is Santana here?"
"No, she's at the grocery store with Rachel getting some food for the trip were taking," she said. "She doesn't want to see you, Mr. Lopez, and as far as I know you asked her to leave your house so I doubt you want to see her."
"Young lady," he looked down at her, "you have no idea what caused me to make that decision, but I can assure you that it was not because I have no desire to see my daughter again."
"Well.. that's not what she feels." She crossed her arms and looked down. "She's hurt. It hurt her to get kicked out by her father, I understand how much that hurts, mine did the same thing."
"Yes, well, Russell always was an ass." He shrugged. "I understand she's hurt. I just wanted to see her once more before she left. She's my only child, Quinn."
"I'm aware." Quinn sighed. "She's hurt in more than one way. Sir, with all do respect have you looked at your daughter in the last two years? Have you seen what living with your wife and knowing that she wasn't loved has done to her? She's wasting away."
He sighed, not enjoying being confronted by someone his daughter's age. "I know that living with Cherie hasn't been the most... ideal, but Santana has always been loved."
"When was the last time you told her? Or hugged her?" Quinn asked. "Have you not realized that she's drastically underweight? That she doesn't eat?"
He frowned and shook his head. "No, she's not. She eats. There's nothing wrong with her. What are you implying?"
"She's anorexic. She weighs eighty three pounds, sir," Quinn stated, "She weighed seventy five three months ago."
"You're lying." He sounded startled. "That's not possible."
"Yes it is. Rachel and I are practically force feeding her at this point and trying to get her to change her habits so that I won't lose her."
His eyes narrowed. "You are doing what to my daughter?" The idea of anyone forcing his little girl to do anything - including eating - struck him horribly wrong.
"It's a term. She's doing it willingly. She knows she has a problem and she needs to get better, but she's scared of losing control over the one thing she has always been able to handle. She's a scared, broken girl, Mr. Lopez. I'm just trying to get her healthy again."
He sighed, his shoulders slumping. For a moment, he looked far older than he was. "Of course you are," he murmured, reaching into his pocket and pulling out the envelope he'd placed there earlier. He looked at it for a moment before holding it out to her. "Can you give her this?" he asked.
"Is it going to make her upset?" she asked curiously as she took it and laid it on her lap. "She doesn't deserve that, she deserves nothing but love and she's already so scared that her mother isn't going to like her..."
"It's... a key," he tried to explain, "to the storage locker where I put her things so Cherie couldn't destroy them. Some money to help pay for things on this trip and," he licked his lips, "her graduation present. I was too much of a coward to stay long enough to give it to her then, but it's still hers."
"So you did go?" she asked softly. "She'll like that... She was sad that no one was there for her."
"I was there," he smiled wistfully, pulling out his phone and turning it on to show Quinn the picture of his girl on stage. "I couldn't stay away from my little girl's graduation."
She smiled. "Good."
"You should know I didn't want to kick her out," he murmured, looking at the photo again. "She needed to get away from Cherie - and me - though. Our house is toxic. I never should have fought so hard to keep her from her mother..."
"Let's hope her mother actually wants her. She deserves to be wanted and loved. Maybe someday she will forgive you." Quinn sighed and held the envelope.
"I hope so," he murmured. "I don't deserve it though." He closed his eyes, head tilted towards the ground before he straightened and looked at Quinn again, "Take... take care of her for me, please?" he asked softly, feeling more vulnerable than he had when he'd asked Daniella to marry him or held Santana in his arms for the first time.
"I promise. She means the world to me right now. She's my best friend and I care for her deeply," she said with a slight blush, "Do you have my cellphone number in case something happens during our trip or if we need to get in touch with you?"
He shook his head. "I don't believe so. Do you have mine?" he asked curiously.
"No," she said. "Do you have a card? I can I just write my number down for you."
"Of course, just a moment." He pulled his card folder out of his pocket and pulled out two cards. "Here, keep one. My numbers are on it," he added, pulling out his pen and handing it to her as well.
She nodded and started to write her cellphone number on it as well as her mom's number. "I gave you my mom's number too, incase you need to contact someone..." She handed him the card back to him and put his in her pocket. "Thank you, I'll make sure Santana keeps in contact or at least I let you know when we get to Providence."
"Thank you, Quinn." He held out a hand to her to shake. "I don't know if you'll ever know how much this means to me."
"My mom did the same thing with Santana for me when I got kicked out, it's my job to keep her safe too."
He nodded. "Still thank you. I'm glad she has people to watch out for her."
"We're heading out tomorrow morning," she said softly. "I'll take care of her."
"Thank you," he murmured again before turning to go.
She nodded and clutched the envelope as she watched him walk back to his car.
Santana was heading back inside for yet another one of Rachel's stupid suitcases when she spotted a familiar blonde head bouncing down the sidewalk. Noticing her almost at the same time, Brittany waved and grinned.
"San!" she chirped. "I came to help and I brought lunch!" She held up a pizza box. "I figured I won't see you for like a long time after you go, so I should help today."
"Thanks, Brit." She smiled and tied the suitcase to the roof with the other larger things. "Do you wanna take it into the house? Quinn's just getting things finalized and ready with Rachel."
"Sure," she nodded. "Is there anything else to bring out? Cause I'll totally get it for you."
"Do you wanna bring Quinn's chair out? She's decided to try to walk all day." Santana rolled her eyes and smiled. "Stubborn."
"Yeah, I'll get it." She smiled at Santana, skipping into the house. "Q, Rachie! I brought pizza!"
"Pizza?" Rachel perked up, "Veggie pizza perhaps?"
"Yep," Brittany chirped proudly, putting it on the table before going to fold Quinn's chair up to push outside. "And I even got them to not put any cheese on part of it for you."
"You're the best." Rachel grinned at her before going back to help Quinn with her room.
Quinn sat on her bed hugging her pillow for a moment to try to gather her thoughts. She was worried about her mom and leaving her alone so soon. She looked up when Rachel walked in and forced a smile, "Hey, was that Brit?"
"Yes," she smiled, sitting down beside the girl, "she brought pizza for lunch. What do you want packed next?"
"That was nice of her," she whispered softly. "Is San still outside?" she asked as she put her pillow and Santana's pillow in the bedding box with their blankets and set of sheets. "Is my mom helping?"
"Yes and I believe she left to go to the store to pick up another cooler for the trip," Rachel offered, coming out of her bathroom after finish packing Quinn's toiletries up and looking at Quinn curiously. "Are you okay?"
"I'm nervous about leaving her alone," Quinn admitted. "She's not strong enough."
"She's going to her meetings, right?" she asked softly, moving to sit besides her on the bed. "And... perhaps Brittany could come by and have dinner with her once a week if she's lonely. I know my fathers would love to invite her to come by as well."
"Yeah." Quinn sighed. "I know... I'm just worried about her. She's going to the meetings and church so she has people around her... She's just not a stong woman." Quinn picked up her lamb and held it in her hands. "She'll be okay. Will I be okay? I've never really been away for long periods of time."
"Of course you will," she whispered slipping an arm around her shoulders to hug her. "You're Quinn Fabray. You can do anything. And besides, you've got Santana and myself only about two hours away in either direction. You're not really alone, because I know I for one would always welcome your company and I'm certain that Santana would as well."
She nodded. "I know. It's stupid, everything is just happening so fast."
"That's just how things are sometimes." Rachel shrugged, offering a wry smile. "I know I for one was a sobbing wreck last night at the prospect of leaving my dads. It's natural to be frightened, Quinn. But consider that we're finally getting out of Lima and starting to be the people we were always meant to be."
She nodded and picked up the soft pink blanket that Santana had brought from home when she left and held it in her hands with the lamb. "Yeah, we will all be okay. Plus, it will be a fun road trip..."
"It will." Rachel nodded with a smile. "And maybe," she grinned teasingly, nudging Quinn's shoulder, "you and Santana can finally make things official."
She picked up a box out of her nightstand labeled Beth and placed it in the bedding box and closed it with the lamb and Santana's blanket inside. "Maybe... I'd really like to do that."
"No maybes." She smiled at her, hopping up and grabbing the tape to close the box. "If you want something, go for it. Don't let anything or anyone hold you back. No matter how much you think you need them." She smiled shyly at her. "You taught me that."
"Yeah, Yeah," she said, with an eye roll. "Let's go check on San and Brit and make sure everything is good to go." She got up off the bed slowly and grabbed the cane she had been using to hold her balance. She worked on walking out of the room and into the kitchen.
Rachel picked up the last box and carried it along as she followed behind her. "I'm glad we get this trip to relax and have some fun before knuckling down to college life," she remarked, opening the door for Quinn while balancing the box awkwardly on her upraised knee.
"Me too, I'm interested to see where we end up." She smiled as she watched Santana out the door off the kitchen that looked out onto the driveway. The girl was wearing a tank top and shorts as she climbed up onto the car and worked on strapping the three boxes and Rachel's two large suitcases to the roof. Quinn smiled as she raked her eyes over the girl's form and watched her defined biceps flex with the tug of the rope.
"You're drooling," Rachel sing-songed, heading out the door with the box. "This is the last, I think. Are we almost done?"
"She's beautiful," Quinn exhaled as she looked back over and grabbed some water out of the fridge for them all and then plates for the pizza. "We're done after that."
"Oh goodie!" Brittany cheered, helping Santana down from on top of the car. "Then we can eat!"
"That sounds accurate," Rachel agreed easily enough as she joined them by the car. "Where would you like me to put this, Santana?" she asked, holding up the box.
"Bedding?" she asked as she pushed her hair off her neck. "It's gonna go in the back, we have space left and then the cooler that Judy brings will go in the back with you or Quinn," she said as she took the box and shoved it in the back and closed the hatch of her car. "All done."
"Excellent." Rachel smiled. "Then it's time for lunch."
"Yay!" Brittany cheered, picking the smaller girl up and spinning her around - much to Rachel's startlement, "Lunch! I'm starving!"
Santana headed inside the house and slipped behind Quinn, "Hi you," she whispered as she rested her hands on the girl's hips.
Quinn started slightly before realizing who it was and relaxing into Santana. "Hi." She smiled at her over her shoulder. "Kiss for luck?" she teased.
She pressed a soft kiss to her lips and smiled. "I'm gonna shower before we head out okay? I'll try and eat a bit though."
"Share a slice with me?" Quinn suggested. "I'm way too anxious about leaving to eat much right now."
"Please. Then we can leave some dinner for your mom," Santana pointed out as she kissed Quinn again before Brittany and Rachel came back in. "Ready to eat?" she asked as she moved over to wash her hands.
"Yeah!" Brittany chirped, hurrying in as Rachel went to wash her hands.
Santana leaned against the car and watched as Quinn was tangled in a long hug with her mother. Judy had been doing good with everything, including her daughter bringing Santana into their home to live off and on for the least month and a half before school ended. She had been friendly and nice to Santana whenever she was at the house and tried to make her feel welcome. Santana knew Quinn was worried, they had had a conversation about coming back to Lima to visit Judy on Thanksgiving break the night before. She looked over at Rachel who was hugging Brittany and smiled as she fiddled with the keys in her hand.
"I'm gonna miss you so much, San!" Brittany cried, suddenly wrapping her arms around her and lifting her into the air with her arms practically pinned to her sides. "Please please pleaaase come back and visit soon!"
“I will,” Santana promised as she hugged Brittany, “I’ll talk to you in a few days. We can work on your Spanish homework, alright? Keep up with your studying.”
"I will!" She nodded. "I'll make you proud of me. You'll see. I wish I could come with you guys. You're gonna have so much fun without me!" she pouted.
“Next summer, alright? After you graduate we can do this all again.” Santana smiled and pushed the girl’s hair behind her ears. “I’m proud of you, Britt.”
"You'll be more proud next year, promise." She smiled down at her. "I'm gonna work really hard and when I can't understand I'm gonna ask for help. And no boys to distract me. Okay?"
“You can do it, you’re awesome,” Santana said as she kissed her friend's cheek. “I love ya, B.”
"I love you too, now I gotta go say bye to Q." She kissed her cheek then bounced off to hug Quinn.
"She'll be okay," Rachel murmured, coming over beside her.
“I know,” Santana said as she watched them hug. “I’m gonna say bye to Judy.” She walked over to the older blonde worrying her hands. “Thank you for everything, Mrs. Fabray.”
"It's been a, well, not always a joy," she smiled wryly, "but certainly a pleasure having you here. Take care of my daughter, will you?"
Santana smiled and nodded. “You know I will... You have all of our cell phone numbers and my mom’s number if you need anything, right? Please take Rachel’s dads up on their offer of dinner. It would make Quinn happy to know you have people to be around.”
"Don't worry about me," she smiled. "I may have made mistakes in the past, but I know better than to fall into those habits again. I'll be fine. You girls be careful on the road. Drive safe."
“I will. I won't let anything happen to Quinn and I’ll make sure she gets back into Physio when we get to my mom's.”
"Good, but don't let anything happen to you either, alright?" She pulled Santana into a hug, "She needs you almost as much as she needs to breathe sometimes."
Santana blushed and nodded in the hug. “I need her the same way.”
"Be good," she whispered, kissing Santana's cheek before letting go and turning away to wipe at her eyes.
“We will.” Santana smiled and pulled away and moved over to Quinn and wrapped an arm around her waist. “Ready to go?”
"Yeah," she smiled at her with suspiciously watery eyes. "Yeah. Let's get this show on the road."
“Berry!” Santana yelled, startling the smaller girl who was hugging Brittany again. “Let's bounce!”
"Alright already," Rachel called back, hurrying over crawl into the backseat after realizing Quinn had claimed the front.
Santana shoved the cooler into the empty spot next to Rachel before checking the roof ties once more then held the door for Quinn, “M’lady.”
Quinn laughed with a shy blush. "Thanks," she murmured, climbing carefully into the car and tucking her cane alongside her seat.
She closed Quinn’s door carefully before going back to the driver's seat. She smiled to Judy and got into the car and slid on her glasses before turning the car over. “Let’s do this.”
"To the East Coast!" Rachel cheered, oblivious to the knowing looks shared between the girls in the front seat.
Santana took a swig from her water bottle keeping her eyes on the road as they drove up and around Lake Erie’s coast towards Detroit. She had been impressed that Rachel’s keen sense of direction hadn’t complained about the fact they were going west not east yet.
"Santana," came the aggravating whine of Rachel's "needy" voice from the back seat, "can we pull over for a bit? Much as I don't mind indulging your apparent desire to seek the home of classic American muscle cars, I would truly like to stop and stretch my legs and possibly indulge in a bathroom break."
“Again?” Santana groaned as she looked around for a sign signaling the next rest stop. “Jesus, what are you doing back there? Drinking all the waters?”
"It's been two hours since the last stop," Rachel huffed.
"Come on, San," Quinn said softly, reaching over to rest a hand on her arm, "just stop for a bit. It's not like we're in any big rush. We can eat some dinner while we're stopped too."
“Fine,” Santana said as she looked over to Quinn with a glance. “There’s a stop like 15 miles away, can you wait or do you wanna pee on the side of the road?” she asked raising an eyebrow to Rachel through the mirror.
"I can wait!" Rachel's eyes went wide at the idea of trying to urinate on the side of the road.
Quinn giggled, leaning against the window but leaving her hand on Santana's leg where it'd landed after slipping from her arm.
Santana smirked and slipped her right hand down to intertwine her fingers with Quinn’s. After a while Santana pulled into the parking lot of the rest stop complex. “Peeing, then food then I’ll get gas before heading out?”
"Sounds like a plan." Quinn smiled over at her as Rachel scrambled out the back and ran towards the bathroom gripping a bottle of sanitizer. "Hey, San?" she asked softly with a little smile, "You should really think about asking me again." Saying that, she opened the door and carefully slid out with her cane to follow Rachel.
Shell shocked, Santana hesitated for a moment before scrambled out of her seat, cutting Quinn off, and pressed her back into the car. “Ask you what?” she said softly as her hands rested on Quinn’s hips.
"You know what." She smirked, biting her lip shyly as she glanced at her, a light blush coloring her cheeks.
“Really?” Santana asked with a smile. “I can?”
"If you're ready," she whispered, looking at Santana.
“Quinn,” she whispered, “will you go out with me on a date when we get to Toronto?”
She smiled softly, ducking her head and licking her lips before giving a tiny nod. "Yes," she glanced back up at her through her eyelashes, "if you'll agree to be my girlfriend."
Santana nodded and hugged Quinn tightly, lifting her off the ground as she did so. “Yes.” She kissed the girl softly once she put her down. “I’m so happy right now.”
"Really?" she asked shyly. "Is that all it takes?"
“Yes.” She smiled and took her hand.
"You're easy," she teased. "Now, I actually do have to use the bathroom, so care to escort me?"
Santana nodded and walked with Quinn, supporting her. “Stubborn,” she remarked, “you could just take the chair out of the car.”
"Not until we get to the motel," she insisted. "When are you going to tell Rachel her itinerary is out the window?"
“Haven’t decided.” Santana smirked. “But I think you should take a bath with me tonight...”
"Oh, should I now?" Quinn laughed softly, reaching for the bathroom door.
“Yes,” she said holding it open for her. “And I declare that we get our own room when we go on our date and get something to occupy Rachel.” She smirked as she headed inside.
"Oh, so you two have finally made things official?" Rachel asked with a grin as she washed her hands. "It's about time, I must say."
"Rachel, go find your rabbit food so we can have dinner when we're done in here," Quinn muttered, blushing.
Santana hid behind Quinn at Rachel’s comment before quickly slipping into a stall to hide her blush.
"Whatever you'd like, Quinn." She shrugged, drying her hands. "Though I must say, it's cute and I believe you two will be good for each other." Smiling, she headed out.
"Damn, observant, little hobbit," Quinn muttered with a blush and a shy smile as she made her way into a stall.
With a quick washing of hands, Santana and Quinn headed back out to the food court. “What do you want to eat?” She asked looking around at the choices.
"Maybe a couple sandwiches? We can split one now and eat the other later?" she mused looking at the menu.
“Sounds good,” Santana remarked. “Can I get a banana too?”
"That sounds tasty." She smiled at her. "What sounds good for sandwiches though? Grilled cheese? Or they've got a club... ooh! BLTs!"
Santana chuckled. “Baby, get your BLT and I’ll get the hummus and veggie deal thing they got up there.” She said as she wrapped her fingers around Quinn’s belt as they talked.
Quinn leaned against her without really realizing she was doing it as they moved closer to the counter. "Okay, but I think I'm still only going to eat half so I can eat with you later. Did Berry turn you vegan?" she teased.
“No, I just... I’m not ready for that kinda intake yet and I’ve just started doing lean protein, like chicken and fish in small amounts,” Santana replied. “I can’t justify the calories in my head.”
"That's okay," she rested her head on Santana's shoulder. "I just want to know so I don't get stuff you can't eat when I'm ordering for everyone. I like that you're smaller than me," she mentioned. "It's easier to lean on you when I have to."
“I’m glad I’m a good resting post.” She rolled her eyes and smiled as they got to the counter. “Hey,” she said to the kid behind the register, “can we have a BLT, the veggie sandwich and a strawberry smoothie?” Santana asked as she reached for her wallet. “Oh shit!” she exclaimed, nabbing the banana she was eyeing, “This too.”
"You sure you've got your wallet?" Quinn asked curiously, straightening up. "I mean, I can get it if you left it in the car."
“I have it, I just forgot my banana.” She smiled and shook the fruit in her hand, “I got it now.” She said as she held her wallet in her hand and looked back at the boy.
"Damn, lady, you really wanted your banana," he muttered, adding it to her order. "That'll be seventeen fifty. Cash or credit?"
“Mmm, maybe I just really like a thick bite of this,” she said as she held it in her hand before finding a 20 dollar bill. He looked at her shocked, his eyes wide at her comment. “Or maybe not and I’m just hungry.”
"San, don't tease the help," Quinn muttered in her ear, blushing.
“It’s so much fun though.” She smirked as she winked at the boy.
"More fun to tease me, I'd think," she pointed out, nipping at her ear before stepping away to join Rachel at the table she'd found.
A small coy smile played across her face and she reached out and snatched her change and the tray with their food. She grabbed some napkins and straws before heading over to the table. “Find foods?” she asked Rachel as she sat down.
"Surprisingly enough, yes," she smiled happily, pointing at the very similar hummus and veggie wrap on her plate with a selection of fruit. "I wasn't expecting to be able to eat much more than lettuce and fruit here, so I was pleasantly surprised. You seem happy," she teased gently.
“I have a banana and strawberry smoothie,” she said as she put a straw in it and offered it to Quinn to share.
"If I knew that was all it took to make you happy, I'd have ensured you had an endless supply starting freshman year," Rachel muttered, causing Quinn to snort and have to clap a hand over her mouth to avoid a mess.
She pouted. “It’s all I ate when I used to spend summers in the Dominican Republic with my Abuela,” she explained as she poked at her sandwich.
"Don't worry, baby," Quinn leaned over to kiss her cheek, "she's just teasing. Come on, eat your sandwich," she added, taking a big bite out of one of her sandwich halves. "Unless you need me to feed you," she teased, with a wink.
Santana rolled her eyes and cut it into thirds and took a small bite. She chewed it throughly and watched Rachel as she looked at the map she had purchased.
"Berry, stop obsessing over maps," Quinn rolled her eyes as she noticed it. "We've got GPS and we're not going to every musically related tourist trap this side of the Mississippi River."
"Quinn, surely you can appreciate the importance of a good plan," Rachel tried arguing, picking up her wrap with one hand as she continued to peruse the map.
“You’re insane,” Santana remarked, as she took a sip of the smoothie. Under the table she slid her hand onto Quinn’s thigh and stroked her leg with her fingertips.
Quinn reached down and caught her hand with a knowing smirk. "Just leave it alone, Rach. We're having fun, not going on a tour. Can't you just relax and go with the flow for once?"
She snorted. "Clearly you haven't seen my itinerary." She pulled it out of her purse and set it on the table. "I've designated potential stops in order of amusement factor and interest to maximize our entertainment levels on the trip."
Santana kept stroking her thigh with her thumb as she looked at Rachel’s plans. “Those look totally lame.”
"Santana Lopez!" Rachel gasped, appalled. "I'll have you know that I put hours of work into this! I even took yours and Quinn's interests into account!"
“Did you? Because I suddenly had interest Elvis? Or going to Graceland?” She asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Well, no," she blushed, "but there doesn't seem to be a great many landmarks you would be interested in in the direction we are... well, were headed..."
“Yup, scrapped that plan... now eat so we can get back on the road. We gots like two hours before we get to the motel.”
Rachel's eyes narrowed. "This sounds suspiciously like you've had this planned for a while, Santana..."
“Me? Never...” She smirked, finishing the piece of her sandwich and wrapping the rest up so she could focus on the smoothie.
"Don't be coy, Santana. You're one of the most devious people I know."
"It's part of her charm," Quinn stated with a eyeroll as she clasped Santana's hand so it would stop wandering. Santana pouted and sipped on her drink.
Santana parked in the motel just across the Canadian boarder. Rachel was huffing about her agenda and she was upset that Santana wouldn't tell her why they were now in another country. Santana grabbed the duffle bag of clothing for Quinn and herself and then Rachel's suitcase after they checked in and headed into the room. It wasn't a great place, but it was a set of beds, clean sheets, and cable.
"Are you absolutely certain I shouldn't see if I cannot secure an additional room, Santana? The two of you did only just decide to make your relationship official. Are you certain you wish company?" Rachel asked, smoothing a hand over the worn but clean coverlet on the nearer bed.
"Yeah, it's fine. You sleep around us all the time," Santana responded. "It's not any different now. We're not gonna like screw or ignore you now that we're together," She explained as she put the bags on the desk. "Right, Q?"
"Right," Quinn nodded with a blush. She licked her lips with a shy glance at Santana before looking at Rachel. "Thanks for offering though."
"I'm simply trying to be considerate of your newfound status, Santana." Rachel rolled her eyes. "That's all."
"I know," Santana said as she pulled Quinn's medications out of the bag. "How are your legs?" She asked as she watched Quinn wince as she sat down on the bed. "You hurting?"
She shook her head. "I'm just a little sore from being in the car all day," she reassured her with a smile as Rachel started unpacking everyone for the night. "I'm sure I'll feel better after a hot bath."
Santana nodded. "Rach, you gonna be kosher for a bit if I help Quinn out getting into the bath?" She asked softly as she handed Quinn her medications.
"I'm sure I can occupy myself for some time," she agreed, settling on the bed with the remote. "For example, there is always perusing the available programming."
Quinn just shook her head and headed into the bathroom. “Just no porn, that shit's expencive!” Santana teased as she grabbed their pajamas and headed into the bathroom with Quinn. She looked at her girlfriend who was starting the water and dumping some shampoo into the water to make bubbles. “Hi.”
"That's disgusting, Santana!" could faintly be heard through the door, followed by the soft thump of something - probably a pillow - hitting it.
Quinn chuckled softly, shaking her head. "Don't tease the hobbit so much," she teased, "she might explode and I'm not cleaning that up." She smiled softly up at Santana from where she was sitting on the edge of the tub. "Hi, baby."
"But it's fun." Santana pouted, as she walked over and stood in front of Quinn. "Hi back," She said as she threaded her hands in Quinn's hair after she took it out of the ponytail it had been in all day.
She laughed. "At this rate, neither of us will end up in the bath before its cold." She reached for Santana shyly. "Want to help me get ready?"
"Yes." She smiled and helped Quinn to her feet and slid her hands up the girl's shirt and pulled it over her head. She deposited it on the counter and reached for her yoga pants and smiled, "I can push these down?"
She rolled her eyes. "No, I thought I'd wear them in the bath," she quipped, standing with Santana's help and resting her arms over her shoulders. "Yes, San. You can."
"Hate you sometimes," Santana mumbled as she took down Quinn's pants and underwear and helped them off her feet and put them aside before standing back off and unclasping Quinn's bra. Once Quinn was undressed Santana stood back and let her eyes fall over her body, "So beautiful," She remarked before looking down to not make Quinn uncomfortable.
"You don't hate me," Quinn murmured with a blush as she stood nude before her girlfriend, her fingers carefully working the buttons of the other girl's shirt open. "You like to see me like this too much to hate me."
"This is true." Santana smiled and let Quinn work on undressing her.
"I like you like this," she whispered, pushing the shirt back off her shoulders, "letting me lead." Her fingers trailed lightly down over her exposed abdomen to begin undoing her jeans, "Especially now you're mine."
Santana let it fall to the ground. "You've always told me what to do," she pointed out. "I've always kind of liked it..." A slight blush came onto her face as Quinn slid her hands into the back of her jeans and cupped her ass.
"Really?" she whispered with a shy smile, giving Santana's ass a squeeze before sliding her jeans and panties down as far as she could. "I could get in trouble knowing that," she teased.
Once the jeans were kicked off she stepped into the water and reached for Quinn's hand. "You should forget that tidbit.."
"What should I forget?" Quinn asked teasingly as she carefully climbed in, "That you like me being in charge like this?"
Santana sat down in the water, sitting with her arms open waiting for Quinn to sit with her. "Shut up." She pouted.
Quinn settled back against her with a contented sigh as the heat started to seep into her aching muscles. "Why? I like being in charge. I like that you like it and want me to be in charge." She glanced back over her shoulder curiously, "Isn't that what you want? Me in charge?"
"Maybe? I don't know can we just be us?" she asked as she wound her arms around Quinn's stomach. "I just wanna be us and I wanna take care of you..."
"I like when you take care of me," she admitted softly. "You're the only one I like relying on, baby. I just," she blushed, biting her lower lip, "kinda like the idea of being in charge, you know... In the bedroom."
"You would," Santana smirked, "and... I like that too, I think." She rubbed her fingers over Quinn's bellybutton. "I like you telling me what to do."
"I like how you act with everyone else too," she murmured, relaxing into Santana's embrace and closing her eyes as her head settled back against the girl's shoulder. "All forceful and take no prisoners. It's really," her lips curled up in a dreamy smirk as she contemplated it, "hot."
"I don't like people talking to me like i'm stupid," Santana said, as she kissed her girlfriend's temple. "Q? Why did you decide you would be with me today?"
Quinn took a deep breath and let it out slowly as she thought. "I was walking all day without the chair and... We're out of Lima. Mostly though, I just...really wanted to be your girlfriend at that moment."
"And this moment?" She asked nervously, "and the one three weeks or months from now?" Santana let out a shaky breath. "I don't think I could handle you changing your mind."
Quinn shook her head, opening her eyes to look at Santana as she reached up to cover her hands with her own. "Every moment, baby," she whispered. "I just needed that little push to get past my fears of messing everything up. That's all. I couldn't imagine not being your girlfriend anymore when I told you to ask again."
Santana smiled and nodded before capturing Quinn's lips into a kiss. She traced the outline of her lips with her tongue before slipping it inside.
Quinn let her eyes close as a hand reached up to gently cup the back of Santana's head. A soft moan escaped her throat as her tongue tangled with Santana's, but she wasn't pushing passion into the kiss. They weren't ready to really explore things fully yet - especially not with Rachel sitting right outside - but she enjoyed the kiss and the easy intimacy with her girlfriend.
After awhile, Santana pulled away and whimpered. "Your kisses are dangerous," she whispered.
"And yours aren't?" she asked with a breathless laugh, leaning against the girl. "Rachel's just outside..."
"Doesn't mean that they still don't turn me on," Santana whispered as she teasingly rubbed Quinn's skin.
"San, don't start," she chided, catching her hand and stilling it. "I'm nervous enough being naked with you like this," she admitted with a blush.
"Sorry," she said softly, "I'm just playing... I know you're not ready."
"I'm afraid of attempting to have my way with you against the counter," she admitted softly, "and either getting caught, or worse, my legs giving out..."
"Sounds sexy," Santana said softly, as she started to wash Quinn with the tiny bar of soap. "But, I understand. I still have memories of that time after we graduated if I need to relieve some tension, when your kisses get me too hot."
"That was," she licked her lips, a tiny shiver running through her body as she remembered, "good... That was a really good night, San."
"Amazing, you looked so beautiful... I had to try so hard to not just try and taste you..." she said into Quinn's ear.
"I wish I'd been ready," she admitted softly, opening her eyes to look at Santana. "I...not since Puck. I haven't. But," she licked her lips, "I want to. With you. I want everything with you, San..."
"It's better now, you're my girlfriend... it will mean more and be special." Santana explained, "I want it to be special, no matter how much I want you."
"It'd be special anyway," Quinn murmured, leaning forward to let her scrub her back. "It was special after graduation. Cause it was you, not because we're official or not..."
"True," Santana said, kissing in between Quinn's shoulders as she spoke, "You are so beautiful when you come..."
"I can't wait to see how you look. I think it might become my favorite expression on you though," she teased, shivering slightly at the kiss.
"You should shower with me... you'd find out real fast how I look," Santana teased, "You drive my body crazy, Q."
"Keep talking like that and you'll find out how crazy I can drive you," she muttered under her breath. "We should get out soon. Water's getting cold."
"Tease," Santana said as she rinsed her off and slipped out from behind her to offer a hand up. She pulled a towel around herself as did Quinn, drying themselves off before slipping on pajamas. Santana drained the tub and brushed her teeth before slipping back into the bedroom. Rachel was laying on her bed engrossed in Casablanca on the television. Santana slipped into the bed and rolled around to find a comfortable spot.
Quinn carefully made her way into the room after finishing brushing her teeth and dressing. Climbing into bed beside Santana, she snuggled into her side. "We're out of Lima," she breathed wonderingly. "we really did it."
"Of course we did," Rachel murmured, glancing at them with a tiny smile. "Was there any other option?"
"Burning it all down? Or letting it become a sinkhole like the Hellmouth did?" Santana yawned as she pulled the blankets up and closed her eyes.
"While Quinn does have the kickass blonde cheerleader thing going on like Buffy and you yourself have Faith's devil may care, no holds barred attitude and dark looks," Rachel remarked, her eyes not leaving the screen, "as well as their undeniable sexual chemistry, I doubt the Hellsmouth lurks beneath Lima, Ohio. Besides, what role would I fill?"
"Anya," they both said in sync, before laughing and curling more into each other.
Rachel blinked then turned on them in indignant shock, "I am not a demon! And besides, she dies in the end, while I have clearly escaped. Humph."
"Fine, you can be Dawn." Quinn teased, "How's that."
"You are not helping," she huffed, folding her arms over her chest.
"Shush, nerds," Santana mumbled as she slipped her hand under Quinn't top to rest on her stomach. "Sleeping."
Rachel snorted, but turned off the TV and got under her covers. "Good night," she murmured, reaching to switch off the lamp by the beds.
"Night," Quinn said as she closed her eyes and listened to the soft breath of her new girlfriend as she drifted off to sleep.