Summary: A/U. Rachel has left McKinley and nobody knows why. Nobody really cares and nobody is happier then Quinn that the diva is finally gone, that is until one chance meeting changes everything. (Trigger inside)
A/N: This does deal with Cancer so if that is a trigger for you then I advise not to read it. I will handle this as sensitively as possible, but this story will be 'angsty' in parts but it will also be a story about beautiful moments coming from terrible situations.
A/N2: Some of you may remember this story posted many moons ago but I pulled it down because I couldn't spare any time to write it, but now I'm ready to write it so hopefully you're still interested.
~#~#~
I was wrong about you
The disappearance of one Rachel Berry had the halls of McKinley High buzzing with gossip and rumours about what could have happened to the annoying brunette. Kidnap, murder and even alien abduction were among the theories on the gossip mill. Whatever the reason nobody could have been happier about the news then Quinn Fabray, who could not help but smile now the burden of her high school existence was gone.
The HBIC strolled through the parting students with a confident walk that she had perfected after years of practice. Santana and Brittany after seeing her began to cruise along either side.
"So have you heard Stubbles is gone, nobody knows where or why but she has finally taken the hint and left. "
Quinn raises one eyebrow, another thing she had perfected, "And I should care because…?"
"Because this means Finn is back on the market and how better to fully solidify your HBIC status by starting to date him again" She receives a smirk from Quinn and continues, "I'm thinking at the weekend we host a little party round mine where you can be reacquainted with one Mr Hudson"
Quinn slows to a stop and sighs "this weekend, I can't my parents have me on this stupid Christian volunteer program at the hospital."
Santana rolls her eyes clearly unimpressed "Seriously why can't you make up some excuse, say I'm having a study group round mine or something"
"Santana do you seriously think my parents are stupid enough to believe that after the last excuse I made about staying out late resulted in Beth? …besides everything is planned and there is a good chance I might be able to volunteer on the maternity unit"
Santana sighed; she knew giving up Beth was a sore point for Quinn and since then children and babies were the only thing that softened the girl's 'hard as steel façade
"Okay you go on your silly volunteer thingy, but don't think this Finn situation will be forgotten"
Santana hugged the blonde and then linked hands with Brittany as they entered their Spanish Class together. Quinn sighed and walked off in the direction of her next class, she decided it wouldn't be a great time to tell her friend that she really wasn't all that interested in dating at the moment.
~#~#~
The weekend was finally here and Quinn was ready for her long day at the hospital. She really hoped they would place her on the maternity ward, because since giving away Beth, Quinn couldn't help but feel like she had this gaping hole inside her that was slowly consuming everything. She was snapped out of her thoughts when she heard her father call her from down stairs, sighing she grabbed her bag and left.
It was only a short drive to the hospital but the atmosphere inside the car was so tense that Quinn was happy to reach her destination. She said a hurried "I'll call you later" to her dad and walked toward the hospital entrance. She went straight to reception and gave over her details and received a piece of paper with some information typed on it. After reading a while her shoulders slumped, "Cancer ward … you have got to be kidding me!" She gave a low groan and then looked up at the signs; she then followed them to where she needed to be and couldn't help the feeling that this day was going to suck, big time.
At the entrance of the ward she saw a small group of about five people all her age huddled in front of a much older man. She quickly assumed this was the volunteer group she was assigned to and joined them.
"You must be Quinn" the older guy smiled and she gave him a slight nod. "Excellent, right so we're all here, let me introduce myself my name is Steve I am the volunteer organiser from the church. Okay before we enter the ward I want to explain a few things. One, do not be afraid to introduce yourselves to the patients that is of course why we're here, they are all around your age so you should have some things in common. Now you will notice some will have their curtains drawn around their cubicles, please respect their privacy and leave them alone they are more than likely sleeping. I will warn you though that this might be upsetting for some of you. Some of these kids are very poorly and it may be distressing. If you find it too hard at times just come back out here and take a few moments. And finally don't forget they just like to be treated like normal, sometimes Cancer can make them feel isolated from the outside world, so just be yourselves. Okay so that's all I guess, when you're ready just go on in, if anyone needs me I'll be around so just come and find me."
With that the small group she was with hesitantly entered the ward, Quinn lingered at the back but eventually made it in. She looked around and took a deep breath, Steve had been right it was slightly overwhelming. These kids were her age and she couldn't help but see all the IV drips and head scarves, and all the things you'd expect when faced with Cancer. She took a deep breath and began to walk through the ward; she felt slightly uncomfortable and didn't want to make eye contact with anyone. She saw the rest of the volunteers from her group already introducing themselves to different patients, but she kept walking ahead. She began to think that she may not be able to do this as she neared the end of the ward. She was about to turn back when she glanced to a lonely figure curled up in bed with their back toward her. Quinn couldn't see the teenagers face, but something about the seeing the way the tuffs of brittle hair patched across her scalp, and her small shoulders bent over as if she were hugging herself made Quinn's heart bleed. She wondered where the girls family were. Slowly Quinn walked over to the bed. She tried to be as quiet as she could because she had a feeling the girl might be asleep and really didn't want to wake her up. As Quinn reached the foot of the bed she saw the girl shift slightly, Quinn stopped until the girl settled on her back and brought her arms down away from her face.
Suddenly Quinn gasped "Berry?" she said and brought both her hands up to cover her mouth. The small girl's eyes opened wide and stared straight at her.
"Quinn?"
I would really like some feedback, and feel free to contribute idea's that you might like to see in the story because you never know they might be written in. I have a solid plot for this story, I know how it will end and I have some big parts of the story already written, but I just need to write filler chapters for the spaces in between. Also I don't know when new chapters will be posted, because I work 12 hour shifts on a 3 on and 3 off basis so I will aim to post 1-2 times a week, but some weeks this might be impossible because of being called into work on my days off, so I will try my best.