Disclaimer: I own nothing, just the idea behind the story.

MI's Note: so, unlike most of my stories, this one isn't completely planned, so if there's something you want to see, point it out. In this particular story, there is a reason for Quinn to take Rachel's offered friendship, after she gave Jacob a pair of her panties. That much is clear.

Lions' Den

Pilot

"Leon?" A young girl of fourteen years of age asked in the nursery of the foster house, looking for a baby boy. Not seeing her target, she frowned; the six-months-old boy was usually waiting for her with a huge smile. She turned to the matron, the only one who was kind to her. "Janice, where's Leon?"

Janice, an elderly and still warm woman, for being in the system for such a long time, turned, and her smile dwindled when she noticed who was the one asking. "Oh Rachel."

She knew it was wrong, that she could cost the boy his chance but, she couldn't help it. She ran to the foyer, not caring that she sounded like a herd of elephants stomping to get away from a mouse. She would often try to at least be presentable, since her social skills were as good as they could be, for a child who had lived in foster care since birth. It boiled down to the fact that she wasn't book smart, mainly because books were a luxury, and she was banned from movie nights. The stories were so interesting that she would get absorbed in them, and not notice when she would shout in indignation or cry out in pain; she had no social skills and no one to teach her.

The only one Rachel had, was Leon, and before him, the boy's mother. Caroline had entered the system after her parents had passed away; she had been twelve when she had to enter the system, while Rachel had been there for ten years already. Caroline was Jewish, and convinced that so was the tanned girl in foster care; she often joked that the nose was a dead give away, and treated the younger girl as a sister. She was, Caroline was, vegan, influencing Rachel deeply, explaining why she didn't like meat. It became a problem, specially being in the system, but despite having the other girl, Rachel's skills didn't improve.

She would listen, since it was the first time another kid in the system had stood up for her, and would only stop the girl to request a definition of a word. She began learning, but she had no idea how to charm, even when her 'mentor' often told her she was charming. And all those lessons went out the window as she tried to get to the boy, the only reminder of her dear Caroline, and her only comfort. Rachel would often run from the foster homes and back to the orphanage just to get back into the system and be with Leon. She did that every month, until the last two she was allowed to stay with the boy. Only that now, he was being adopted.

"Leon!" She cried in relief, seeing the boy, not noticing that there were two men along with the woman who ran the house and another who worked the system.

"Rachel!" Mariel cried in outrage, and two of the older kids stopped her from going through; she had wanted to prevent the outburst, else the family might decide not adopting and it was the boy's best chance. "What do you think you're doing?!"

The hiss was still heard loudly, but it made the girl freeze. That allowed her to breath a silent sigh of relief; the boy still held a chance. The other woman fidgeted about, not sure what to do.

"Would you like to sign the papers —?"

"You said he didn't have a name," one of the men, the one holding the boy tenderly, said, noting the boy looked around with certain intensity.

"Oh, he doesn't —"

"Yes he does!" The girl began, trying to free herself, seeing how indignant she felt. "Caroline said —"

"Caroline's dead." The finality of the statement finally bleed the fight out of the girl.

It would have been alright, if Leon hadn't noticed the girl. "Ra!" He exclaimed in delight, almost getting the man to drop him; it also spurred the girl forward, letting her jacket be taken by the two bullies as she rushed to the boy.

"He speaks!" The other man squealed, but before he could catch Leon, the boy flung himself at the girl, who caught him with ease; he did it often. "Oh."

"Rachel!" Mariel hissed again, but the girl, already crying, only sank to her knees.

"Hey, baby boy," she cooed at the boy in her arms.

"Ra!" Leon made a jerked motion to the two men. "'ome."

She chuckled, along with the men.

"Yes Lee, a new home, for you baby boy," she told him, smile in place as he frowned adorably and dried her cheeks with his soft, and slightly thin hands.

"Come?" He asked and she broke down.

"I'm sorry baby," she held him tight to her chest, her entire frame shaking, "I'm not coming. No, hush baby, don't."

"Imah." But he had already sobbed, and thus, began wailing.

"Oh, for crying out loud!" Mariel huffed. "Sing him that dratted song already."

"She's the only one who can calm him —"

"Ingrid!" It appeared as if Mariel only knew how to hiss.

"But he rarely cries." Ingrid, the system worker, added hesitantly.

"You are not alone
I am here with you
Though you're far away
I am here to stay"

Rachel sang softly, and as she began, the boy immediately quieted down. And her voice? It was god send, both men were struck by its quality and the simplicity of it. It was obvious that the girl, was gifted.

"You are not alone
I am here with you
Though we're far apart
You're always in my heart"

The whimpers had subsided, and those chocolate eyes, they seemed to die and turn a muted color of earth, the barren, desolate type in which its obvious nothing would grow. She stood up, silently, and passed the soothed boy back to the man who had been holding him. The shift made him whimper, but the comforting warmth helped sooth him, and the heart beat, which still held the song's rhythm, lulled him further.

"He likes the original version as well," she whispered hoarsely. "Be good to him."

"How did you learn it?" The other, slightly taller man, asked, stopping her.

"Caroline." They knew that was the boy's mother, pregnant at sixteen, had some complications and the boy had survived, barely. It was the reason for his adoption to have taken six months and not less. "When I met her, four years ago, she taught me many things. She taught me that song; sang it to me when I went to her bed at midnight, and I began to sing it to him when he was born."

A stray tear fell from her eye, but she just turned and walked away, deaf to the world and mute to it too, not a sob escaping her. She wanted so badly to wail like Leon had, cry out, because the only thing she had of her best friend, was now being taken away from her. Rachel understood that it was best for him, but she still felt the selfish need to be with him. The only thing she had left of Caroline, as pale as his mother, with a lush mop of brown hair like Rachel's (his mother had been a raven-haired maiden) but rather straight, not curly like the brunette's. She would often sneak into the nursery to get some quality time with him at night, it was one of the reason for them being so close.

She lost track of time. The only certainty she had, was that she was being sent to another foster house. Ohio wasn't a particularly big state, but it had a localized foster care system spread through out it. She would be moved from town to town, but now that Leon wasn't there, she didn't care. Taking the two duffel bags that remained of her best friend, the clothes she had packed for Caroline's hospital stay, never to be unpacked again, were inside the trunk at the foot of her bed.

It was funny, how those worked. There were some without lock, and were so because the kid who slept in the bed had lost his key twice, and so other kids could take his stuff. It was sad, since the only clothes that remained, were tarnished or soiled. Those were usually fancy clothes a parent had purchased, and that meant that, if someone else tried to wear it, they were in trouble.

Rachel had only lost her key once, and ever since, she kept it close. She packed her own clothes into one duffle, seeing as she didn't own much anyway. The only thing she kept close, was a USB flash memory that held all the pictures Caroline had taken with her phone, passed to a PC at her school, and given the younger girl in the drive. With those few possessions packed, she closed the footlocker, locked the lock, placed her key inside her pocket, and tumbled into the bed. Finally, a sound escaped her, but it didn't break the dam, it was only followed by more sobs. Janice would have checked on her, if the babies weren't demanding her attention.

Or so the Jew had thought.

"Rachel, honey," she had fallen asleep, much to her surprise, and turned to find a smiling Janice.

"Jay . . ." she called back, just to inform she was awake.

"Rachie, come along," the woman cooed, "grab your things."

"Isn't it late to go to a foster home?" She asked as she yawned, getting her dried tears off her eyes.

"Yes." The girl slumped back into the bed with a groan. "You still have to get up."

"Mariel wouldn't allow me dinner," she grumbled into her pillow, making the older woman chuckle.

"Rae," that caught her attention. "Just get your things."

Rachel sighed. Closing her eyes briefly, she visualized the hazel-green eyes of Caroline, and those very same colors in the orbs of a baby boy. Regaining strength, and also tears, she finally stood. Groaning internally, seeing how the rest had already been tucked into bed, she went to her footlocker and took her duffle bags. But, instead of being handed the lock and key for her next stay, Janice just held on to them. Frowning a bit, Rachel followed, not sure of what would happen. The brunette then heard whispers and giggles.

"— getting locked away," someone whispered, "just clothes and that —"

She hissed quietly, but just managed to make them laugh more.

"Children." They all quiet down. Janice was well known for being kind, but also dangerous when crossed.

"Thanks Jay," she said, once they had shut the door. They could hear the rumors going off and the girl rolled her eyes with a scoff. "Why can't we get along like siblings? Why must we endure each other's worse?"

"Because not all of them have been in the system as long as you," the woman replied, and the girl sighed sadly; had she been an ugly baby? Was she broken or simply damaged? Was she spoiled goods or just so alien no one wanted her?

At the foyer, she saw one of the men from the afternoon, the taller one. He gave her a smile and opened the door. She immediately took hold of the woman's arm.

"Rachel, it's okay." Janice said warmly, motioning for the girl to follow the man into the front yard. "Be good Rachie."

The door closed behind her before she could even ask Janice something. Anything. She wanted to run back inside.

"Rachel, could we talk?"

"I would love to babysit," she stated without preambles, back pressed to the door. "But I doubt Mariel would like that and Ingrid wouldn't allow it."

"We want to adopt you." The simple statement from the man made her slip, as she had been about to turn around. He chuckled as he prevented a nasty bump on her rump. "Yes, you heard me right and no, this isn't a dream."

It was then that she realized she had spoken out loud. She stared at the man, dumbfounded.

"See, my husband and I, we want a baby," that explained Leon, so what the hell did they want with her? Her heart pounded, scared; it was almost what had happened to Caroline, before she ended up pregnant. "Yet we also recognize talent, and we want you to come with us."

"Why?" How could she trust them? Sure, the man before her had kept her from falling, helped her stand too, but that didn't have to mean something, did it? He just smiled, simply smiled, and her racing heart calmed a bit.

"Because, it's clear that Leon sees you like a mother," that was surprising. No one knew, mainly because no one knew what 'imah' meant, "and because you have an amazing voice."

She closed her mouth with a snap, took notice of the offered hand, and after a bit of hesitation, took it. She was just fourteen, without book or street smarts, even if she had been often forced into learning self defense from the older kids. Not that she would brag about it, in her effort to try and stay in one house in a permanent fashion (mainly because she had a question for everything that they wanted her out) she had a different set of skills from normal, from those homes who would take kids beyond the fact that they needed the easy cash, and the man actually held a menial job.

"I am Hiram," the man said as soon as she took his hand, and he began guiding her to the car, the empty car. "LeRoy and Leon are waiting for us. We left with him as soon as the papers were finalized, and even though yours are in process, we managed to get them to give you to us as a foster home while we make it official."

"The papers . . . ." But perhaps they didn't want her permanently, maybe it was until Leon had grown a bit and then they wouldn't want her anymore.

Hiram opened the door for her and she climbed in, throat dry.

"We talked to Ingrid as soon as you left."

"Bet Mariel was thrilled," she muttered, and at his inquisitive glance through the rear view mirror, she blushed. "She often tells me I'm too intense for my own good."

"She wasn't," he answered candidly as he drove them away from the orphanage, the only place she had had constant in her life, "she began fuming about having to keep your bunker open for when we decide we didn't want you anymore."

"Oh . . . ." She shied away from the brown eyes, pain laced in the single syllable.

"Yeah . . . I'm sure you can picture how mad she got when LeRoy stated you were to stay," her eyes snapped to his, wide with surprise and Hiram laughed. "Yes, she wasn't thrilled for the contradiction, but that husband of mine didn't give her a chance to say anything as he stormed off, in the perfect diva-fashion.

"We have so much to teach you," he began gushing, surprising her, "besides studies I mean; we are going to see how much you know and if we can level your education but musicals — oh, you'll love musicals. Do you know about musicals?"

"I . . . know about music," she said, hesitantly, "not much, but a little. I like pop, a little punk, and rock, as long as it isn't hardcore."

"How about Mozart or Beethoven?" He asked jovially.

"Uh, they're classics, right?" At the nod and bright smile, she began to relax. "I've heard of them, but not their music."

"With your distinguished ears, I'm sure you'll love them," and with that, she felt better. He thought she had a good hearing, that felt good. They suddenly stopped at a hotel, and she tensed again. "Come, we leave tomorrow early."

"Where?" She was wary, but still followed him, not giving up her hold on her duffles.

"Lima," he replied with a smile, guiding her to the elevator; once the doors closed, did he resume speaking, "we live there, my husband and I, but the foster system doesn't extend to housing there, since it's so small."

"Mmm," she murmured, not knowing what to make of the statement.

"Yeah, it's about an hour and half away," he said as the elevator dinged and the doors slide open; he guided her to one of the room doors, "we're ready for Leon, but we have a room you could use; you can help chose the furniture —"

"But, I get the final say," LeRoy, the man already inside, stated, turning from the TV; a grumpy, un-sleeping Leon on his lap. "Hey baby boy, look who is here."

He turned the boy to face Rachel, and both squealed. The girl ran to the baby, who began gushing and making bubbles from his mouth.

"Imah," he stated with a sigh, before finally relaxing his grumpy face and smiling like mad. He then turned to the two men. "Sta'?"

"Okay kiddo, it's way past your bedtime," LeRoy said, "you could stay up until Rachie arrived, now it's bed time."

"Ra?" He asked frantically, taking hold of her shirt and whimpering. "'ome?"

"They chose so baby boy," she hushed, rubbing his back as she kept her tears at bay, "I'm coming home with you."

Looking at her eyes and giving a final nod of his head, as though he approved; and he would clearly voice his displeasure should he find her gone, he then gave her a sloppy kiss on her cheek. Chuckling, she wiped the stray tear that fell before he noticed and began getting scared, then turned his face so she could blow a raspberry into his cheek, making him giggle like mad. She then did give him his goodnight kiss.

LeRoy took the boy and went to one of the rooms, were she could see a blanket already laid down and the boy being placed upon it. Soon, he was cornered by four, big, plush pillows, another blanket draped over him, the lights were turned off and the door half closed. The man was suddenly outside, with a baby monitor in hand, and Rachel finally sighed. It was then she realized the other man was besides her, taking her into a hug as she cried. Her tears were there as her finally form of release. Everything was happening so fast — too fast, but she still had Leon, and that made everything alright.

"Here." LeRoy gave her a glass of water, and she thankfully drank it, feeling better. "Are you hungry?"

She opened her mouth but her belly growled. She blushed and the men laughed. One went to look for something by the fridge while the other took the phone. Soon, both were back besides her, and she was given something that looked like a menu.

"Go on," LeRoy encouraged, "pick something, anything."

"Anything?" It was a baffling concept.

"Okay, just three things," Hiram began, obviously seeing trouble ahead, "and nothing sweet. Anything salty is game, but no sweets."

"Okay," she replied softly, looking the menu over and her eyes widen at the options. "Can I get a vegan pizza, vegan burger and vegan hot dog?"

Her request was done with big eyes, and both men looked at one another, terrified. That stare could become an unquestionable puppy-eyed pout that made them certain once she learned about it and it's power, she would be able to get away with almost anything.

"Vegan?" They opted to ask, seeing as they were puzzled by the unusual request and she blushed a bit.

"Caroline spoke of it, she was one herself, probably the reason why Leon got sick with milk until they got soy, but by then he had a bug and had to eat pineapple, then he got a bit better." She shrugged a bit, then blushed again, stronger this time around. "Never mind, I was supposed to not eat because I could have cost Leon his way into a good home."

"No, we approve of your choice," Hiram stated as he began calling, "you're drinking apple juice though."

"Yay!" She cheered, and at their gaze, she blushed again. "Soda tastes funny."

While Hiram requested the food, LeRoy sat down besides her with a light chuckle. "Well, at least he's going to get someone to share his kosher."

"How about Funny Girl while we wait?" Hiram placed the movie.

Before she could object, it began, and she was immediately drawn by the voice. She didn't notice when the food arrive, or when she ate it, all she knew was that she had found something to love. Rachel learned who Barbra Streisand was, but they refused to let her watch it for a second time. By the time she realized it was over, and that she had eaten the burger, hot dog, and pizza, all the flavors, plus the apple juice, flooded from her taste buds, and she sighed happily.

"I'm only eating vegan," she stated.

"You barely tasted it!" They cried in response, but she just shrugged. Then frowned. "What is it, baby girl?"

The term froze her, but she decided it was probably a slip, so with a shrug, she answered, "I forgot my toothbrush."

"You have no toiletries?"

"No one has, but a toothbrush is individual." They gasped. She yawned.

"Don't worry, " LeRoy stated as Hiram grabbed the phone again. "As soon as they bring it, you'll brush your teeth and go to bed."

"Yes sir," she saluted, then pouted. "We can't watch it as we wait?"

"No." Both stated, and she shrugged, yawning again.

She stood then, and began humming Don't Rain On My Parade, singing it softly to herself, and they were awed by her ability. Sure, the rhythm could be fresh, but getting the lyrics memorized from one go, and singing them perfectly to tune . . . it was amazing. They snapped from their reverie as the door was knocked on, and they got a brand new toothbrush for the girl. Not noticing that she had done something extraordinary, she went to brush her teeth.

"So, where am I sleeping?" She inquired with yet another yawn.

"You can sleep with Leon." Hiram stated, as LeRoy was still at a loss for words.

Her smile brightened, and they could see a star in the making. The girl skipped to the room, entered, and left the door half opened. Taking the monitor with them to their own room, they heard some movement; she then popped her head just as Hiram was turning off the general lights.

"Oh. Do you want to leave one on?" She shrugged, then shook her head. "It's okay if you do."

"Then, please don't turn them all off," she requested softly, and he smiled at her in reassurance. "Also, I don't want to move Leon too much, so —"

"You can take a blanket," he replied as he took one out from one of the closets in the room, then followed her to the spare one; it was then that he noticed she was wearing an animal sweater and some shorts that were barely noticeable.

Not thinking much of it, he placed the blanket over one of the chairs and then passed her the baby, who whimpered a bit. Hiram then proceeded to take the covers and such from the bed, leaving the fresh linen exposed. Afterwards, he took the baby's blanket, placed it in the middle, took Leon from the girl, placed him down, then placed three pillows to surround him.

"If you want the other side, just switch the pillow accordingly," he stated.

"Oh, so he doesn't fall!" She nodded eagerly, then took her own blanket and placed it over the baby, then slid besides him, on the side that was free. "I've never been able to sleep with him."

"We can make it permanent," he replied with a smile, then proceeded to kiss the baby on his temple, then the girl's forehead.

"Hey! I also want to kiss our kids good night," LeRoy said from the door, teasing the other man. He kissed the baby on his forehead, then the girl's temple. "Good night Leon, good night Rachel."

"Rachel?" Hiram asked, seeing that the girl hadn't move.

"I've, never been kissed goodnight," she whispered, holding the side of her head where the last kiss still lingered. "Are you real?"

"Yes," they stated with a smile, chuckling a bit at the girl's antics.

"Don't think too much about it, baby girl," Hiram said softly, rubbing her back, "just go to sleep."

"Um," she slipped out of bed and moved over to LeRoy, gave him a kiss on the cheek, then did the same for Hiram. "Caroline said it was normal, right?"

"Right," they stammered.

"Okay," she said, relief evident, "good night LeRoy, Hiram."

She went to bed, yawned, and laid down besides Leon, using one of the pillows as she curled into the boy, then covered both, herself and the boy in the process; they noticed how she carefully allowed space for the boy's head to be seen. Turning off the light, they left, and as soon as they half closed the door of their own room, they heard a whimper from the monitor.

"Shh, Leon, it's okay."

"Ra. . . ."

"Yes baby boy, I'm here."

"'ong?"

They heard a chuckle. Then, they heard the girl's melodious voice singing. They smiled at each other as they got into bed. Well, LeRoy got in it, Hiram still had to get dressed. As soon as they heard her sing, they both sighed. The taller man, getting ready quickly, climbed into bed to enjoy the song near his husband. The Jew was happy to get a Jewish girl, though he was sure that while he took them to the synagogue on Saturdays, they would spend Sundays at church. It was fair, he supposed, and besides, Christmas was always fun.

So. Let me know what you think, and what you would like to see next. No, she isn't going to join Glee club, and because of Leon and a stipulation on their friendship, Quinn actually accepts the offer right after the JBI incident.