Chapter 15

"...someone call a referee

I know you know I made those mistakes maybe once or twice

By once or twice I mean maybe a couple of hundred times

So let me oh let me redeem oh redeem oh myself tonight

Cause I just need one more shot at second chances

Is it too late now to say sorry"

Some one was singing. Someone was singing loudly and out of tune. I wanted to sleeeep. I groaned opening one of my eyes slightly. It was Cedric.

"'Cause I'm missing more than just your body."

"Oh for the love of God, shut up!" I said opening my eyes to glare at him.

His face lit up instantly and he jumped up to his feet. "It worked!

She's awake."

He then leaned in closer to me. "Hey. How are you feeling?" He asked concern etched in his voice.

I frowned at him noticing only then that I wasn't in my own room. This room was white. Completely white and a few grey mats. The bed I was lying on was feather soft and obscenely large and so was the room. I turned just in time to see Gabriel rush in through one of the two doors.

I didn't take my gaze off him as strode to my bed side.

"Hey, Lioness. How are you feeling?" He asked gently.

Cedric snorted loudly.

"I'm fine." I said making an attempt to get up. It was then that the pain hit me. My shoulder, my arm and my head. The last memories I had come flooding in. I gasped for air as the pain and/or the flood of terrible memories momentarily knocked me out of breath.

I felt two pairs of hands on me gently laying me back on the bed.

"Easy there." I heard Gabriel say but it was very hazy. My vision was blurry.

I lay back on the cushions panting with my eyes closed as I waited for the pain to subside.

It didn't.

"What...what happened? How l..long was I out?" I bit out trying to swallow the pain. "Why was my father attacking us?" The last question came with alot more force than the first two.

"You've been out for about seven hours." Cedric supplied.

"Alot happened during that time." Gabriel put in.

I waited for them to answer my last question but neither of them did. "And my last question?" I asked gritting my teeth as I clutched my shoulder.

"We will talk about that when you are better." Gabriel said patronizingly.

I frowned. "I..I want to know. Tell me."

"I will get you something for the pain." Gabriel mumbled as he turned away from my pain contorted and increasingly angry face. He walked to a nearby chest of drawers.

"Gabriel. Don't patronize me. I want to know what is going on here!" I cried angrily.

Cedric glanced nervously at Gabriel then back at me, Gabriel in turn turned back to my bed with something I couldn't see cupped in his hand - probably pills. He calmly picked up a glass of water from the bedside table and held it up to me.

"Take this."

I vehemently slapped the glass out of his hand flinging in across the room where it hit the wall and shattered to a million pieces and the water sunk into the grey carpet.

"Tell me." I hissed my voice booming over the entire room.

Cedric let out a soft whimper and looked absolutely petrified as he glanced desperately at Gabriel.

"Your father is a hunter." Gabriel said in a flat voice.

My heart sunk deep into my gut. I guess I had already guessed that.

"He's not just a hunter. He's the hunter. The ultimate leader of the hunters." Gabriel continued still in the same voice.

"So he took Nana away? Kidnapped her?" I asked a huge lump forming in my throat.

"We believe so. That's why it was so easy to fake the death and take her away." Gabriel reported calmly.

My heart was beating so fast it hurt. My father. My own father. My hero. Kidnap his own mother and make everyone mourn her fake passing. My father.

"Does my mum...? Is she...?" I whispered the incomplete question.

"She's a hunter's mate. Once they become connected to their mates, hunter's mates become very docile and obedient to their husbands. I believe she's fully aware of who your father is." Gabriel supplied.

"Oh my God." I whispered trying to grasp the enormity of my problem. I was to fight my father in order to rescue my Nana and probably after that I will have no family aside from my grandmother? "Why didn't you tell me this?" I asked anger suddenly whirling again inside me. "Why didn't you tell me?" I screamed.

Gabriel visibly winced. "You told me not to."

"What?" I barked. From the corner of my eye I saw Cedric backing away.

"You told me not to tell. Remember?" He raised and eyebrow seemingly unaffected by my voice.

I remembered. Of course I did. I thought I was being sensible. I regretted it. Maybe if I had known earlier...

Dropping my head into my uninjured hand, I allowed myself to sob. My dad was a hunter. He was a killer and not just any ordinary killer, he was the leader of the killers. The look on his eyes when he was coming for me in that battle was feral. As if I was just an obstacle that needed to be disposed of. I almost couldn't recognize him. And he had hidden from us the fact that we were supernatural, Finn must be furious.

I lifted my head in Cedric's direction. "Where's Finn?" I asked tearfully

I didn't miss the glance that was exchanged between Cedric and Gabriel.

"Where's my brother?" My tone was nolonger mournful, instead it was panicked.

Gabriel sighed. "They took him. The hunters took him."

My senses ended. Literally. I went all numb and all I could do was silently scream my baby brother's name.

"But he should be okay, right? I mean it's Dad who took him. Finn is his son." I said desperately seeking assurance.

I received none as Gabriel and Cedric gave each other nervous glances.

"Santana, Lucas is first and foremost a hunter. He was a hunter before he was a father. I'm sorry but Finn isn't safe." Gabriel told me grimly.

With a small cry, I put my head in my hands and cried. I couldn't handle this. If I hadn't seen Dad myself, I would not have believed it. My whole life was a lie. My brother and I weren't ordinary teenagers, my parents were evil hunters and my grandmother wasn't dead. So many lies. I hardly knew the difference between lies and the truth anymore. And now my baby brother was in trouble. I hiccupped.

"He's just a little boy." I whispered almost to myself. "I have to save him." I announced.

I made another move to get up from the bed having temporarily forgotten my injuries. "Urrrghh!" I screamed as the injuries rudely reminded me that they were still present.

"Relax." Cedric finally spoke out laying me gently back on the pillows.

"I can't relax." I said through clenched teeth. "My brother has been kidnapped!"

"We are already working on finding him. They want you, Santana. So if you go after him on your own, they will take you too." Gabriel said to me.

"What do they want with me?" I asked surprised.

"They know that with you, we will be able to get Shelly back and with Shelly back in power, they stand no chance." He took my hand and gazed down into my anguished eyes. "Don't do anything stupid. We are working on finding Finn and we will bring him back."

"Promise?" I desperately needed assurance.

"I promise." Gabriel brushed his thumb back and forth on my knuckles.

I nodded partially assured but the other part wanted to tear off these bandages and run across the country searching for my baby brother. Finn,please be okay. Please.

I let the tears fall on my cheeks. I was helpless. I couldn't do anything to save Finn and it was my fault he had been kidnapped in the first place. If I had stayed in the gym maybe he would still be here or maybe if I had surrendered myself, he would be okay.

"Here." Cedric was placing a glass in my hand. "It's water."

I accepted the glass and drank it all in one gulp. It tasted a little bitter. "Urgh. What kind of water is that?" I frowned giving the glass back to Ced.

"You need to rest, Santana. When you wake up you'll be much better." Gabriel put in.

"You drugged my water?!" The accusation was flung at Cedric. I was already feeling kinda dizzy

"It was his idea!" He defended him self pointing at Gabe.

"When I wake you are both in trouble." I said weakly with my eyes closed. "Gabriel." I felt him squeeze my hand. "Find him. Find my brother. Please."

I succumbed to the overwhelming sleep.

* * *

The urgent need to use the bathroom woke me. I winced as I slowly got out of bed. My whole left side was practically useless as all my injuries were that side though thankfully the pounding in my head had stopped.

There were no slippers next to the bed so I padded barefoot to the nearest door which actually led to the bathroom. The bathroom was lime and smelled super fresh. The male products inside gave me the first clue that I was in a man's room. Was is Gabriel's room? Or maybe Cedric? But where were they now? Because I didn't know what time it was but I was pretty sure it was late in the night.

Finishing my business, I washed my mobile hand and headed out. The lights in the room were dim but I could see a double door at the other end of the room. I slowly padded to it then placed my ear against it so I could hear if anyone was at the other side.

I heard nothing so I turned the knob and pushed it open.

Ah! Gabriel's office! And there was Gabriel sitting on his chair with his head back against the head rest, sleeping.

As quietly as I could, I inched closer to the sleeping man. I sat down on the exact chair I had once sat on a few days ago.

He looked so... Boyish when he was sleeping. His mouth was relaxed, eyes closed instead of tearing other people's souls apart and he was quiet instead to retorting something mean and rude. I definitely liked him more when he was asleep. Gosh, he was so amazingly handsome, it was hard to believe he was real.

"Forgot what I looked like?" He suddenly spoke startlingly the crap out of me.

"Aren't you supposed to be sleeping?" I asked my cheeks turning a bright pink.

He opened his eyes and regarded me with a hint of amusement. "Aren't you?"

"No." I replied simply.

"How are you feeling?" He asked with a frown.

"How am I feeling? Hmm lets see...I have paralysing concern for my kidnapped brother, my dad faked his own mothers death, my mother is a coward, my family is a joke, my best friend hates me. The physical pain is actually an up side, I think because at least I get to focus on it rather than the horrible crap that is my life." I was breathless by the time I finished my soliloquy pity speech.

Gabriel looked surprised by my outburst and he seemed at a loss for words but only for a second. "Would you like something for the pain?"

His attempt at humour failed to hit it's mark but it did manage to change the mood from a depressing shade of blue to a slightly less depressing shade.

"I would like something to hit you in the head with." I snapped.

"We are watching your family house and all your properties across the country and also some of the hunter's bases we know of."

"And?" I interrupted my interest quipped

"So far no activity at your properties and too much activity at the bases. But soon enough we I'll be able to get a read of the situation." Gabriel supplied.

I frowned. "I should be out there looking for him." I mumbled almost to myself.

"No, I promised to bring him back, didn't I? I will bring him. You need to recover because the hunters have realised what we are up to and we need to move fast. Fabio has moved into his old room. It's time to get to work." He stated.

He was right of course. Because of my injuries I couldn't do anything right now but as soon I recovered, if they hadn't done anything i was going to get Finn myself. If anything happened to him...if Dad did anything to hurt him I swear...

"As for Lucas, only one person can stop him. And that's Shelly. We find her, we stop Lucas." He continued unaware of my resolution. "Your mother will of course follow for father always. And Santana," he stood up and came around the desk to sit next to me on the other chair. He took my hands and spoke softly. "we are your family and your friends as well. I know it's painful to realise everything about your family that you didn't know but you need to know that I'm here for you. And as long as you need me I'll not leave."

My eyes were huge and teary. It was the most sweetest thing Gabriel had ever said to me. I couldn't help the feelings that whirled up inside me as I gazed up at his handsome face. It was probably my innocence and naivety that made me feel so draw to him. Like a magnet. A moth to a flame.

My lips parted as I exhaled.

Suddenly Gabriel's head seemed to be coming closer and there were only a few inches between our lips that I finally realised what was about to happen. From there everything seemed to happen in slow motion as the distance closed and his lips were on mine.

Upon contact, I felt like I had been electrified and judging by the way Gabriel pushed his hands through my hair, I wasn't the only one. His lips moved against mine in a way that can only be described as seductive. My body was on fire as he kissed me with so much passion it left me shaking. I boldly placed my small hand on his chest and in response he deepened the kiss.

Oh my...

I moaned.

He suddenly pulled away from me leaving me feeling robbed.

"Are you okay? Did I hurt you?" He asked breathlessly looking me over gently touching my wounded arm.

"No no. You didn't hurt me." I breathed.

My gaze met his, I couldn't stop the color from flooding my cheeks as my breathe came out in little puffs. And Gabriel wasn't making the situation any better because he was looking down at me as if I was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. He looked like he was debating whether to kiss me again or not.

I wanted him to. A lot.

But he was pulling away from me!

"I'm sorry." He drew back from me and stood up. "I shouldn't have done that."

"What... I..umm... you don't need to apologise." I stuttered.

"Yes, I do. You are not well." He said turning away from me. "I acted on impulse."

"Gabriel, I-" I started trying to stand up.

"No, you are just a child, you don't know anything." He rasped pacing around still not looking at me.

That made me pause my efforts to get up. Did he just call me a child? The man who just kissed me in a way that I could have never imagined called me a child!

Forgetting all my injuries I stood up from the chair. Not only had her called me a child, he said I was stupid. A bunch of insults and angry words rose up in my brain but I held them back. Why would he kiss me like that then hurl the worst kind of insults at me?

I was a teenager, sure but everything I was doing here was definitely not teen-ager stuff. And he had the gall to call me a kid when he was the one who cut short my childhood and brought me here!

Oh this was humiliating.

I turned away from him and headed for the door so I could go to my own room. By now I had already figured that the room I had been sleeping in was Gabriel's room. I'd be damned if I was going back there after that.

"Where are you going? Go back to my room." He called after me.

I ignored him as I opened the door to the corridor. As I closed the door behind me, Gabriel's huge hand stopped me.

"Santana- "

"Don't." I warned as he reached for me. I was annoyed to realise that my voice sounded weak and hurt.

I had to get away from him before I broke down in tears. I bolted from the door down the corridor ignoring the protests from my left arm. Gabriel didn't follow me.

By the time I reached my room, my arm was singing and there was a steady flow of tears from my eyes. Maybe from the pain or from the humiliation? Or both? Probably.

I went straight for the bathroom cabinet. There was an assortment of medication bottles. I frantically searched through them for pain tablets. I winced victoriously when I located them.

I had no idea it was so hard to open a pill bottle with one hand.

Damn this child proof cap!

After much effort, I opened the bottle and sprayed pills all-over the floor but I didn't care. The pain was making me delirious. Picking one tablet up, I put it in my mouth and downed it with a gulp of water from the sink. Luckily the pills were also a bit of a sedative so I didn't need to fight with another bottle.

I turned off the bathroom light as I exited the bathroom and climbed on my bed with a groan.

Today was about the worst day of my life.

I could have managed all the crap only if Gabriel had not rejected me so heartlessly. Had the kiss been so bad? I was inexperienced but still...

For me, my first kiss had been...astounding. It had taken me completely by surprise and no words could possibly describe the feeling I had when Gabriel's soft lips touched mine. It literally made me lightheaded. And I could have sworn Gabriel had felt the same but his action afterwards left a bitter taste of rejection in my mouth.

I knew I had set myself up for disappointment when I had agreed to let him be my friend. Gabriel was not the type of person I wanted him to be. The type of person to openly care about someone, to not hurt someone, to speak kindly to someone.

If only I didn't like him so damn much.

Look at me now. I was in blinding pain and my brother had been kidnapped by my hunter and liar of a father yet here I was musing about Gabriel. That was so messed up.

I groaned as I rolled over willing myself to sleep. Maybe tomorrow my head will be clearer. But one thing was for sure; I was done playing buddy-buddy with Gabriel.

======================================

Hey :)

Soo sorry for the late late update. I was a lot busier than I thought I would be. :/

And for some reason this chapter was kinda hard for me to write but I hope you enjoyed it.

Well I'd love to hear thoughts on Gabriel and Santana's 'friendship'.

Chloe.