This is set between Mash-off and I Kissed A Girl. Spoilers for Season 3x06 and 3x07.

"Not just the school, you idiot! Everyone!"

"What are you talking abou-" The slap rang across the auditorium, and both New Directions and the Trouble Tones stood for a second, stunned. Then everyone started talking at once.

"New Directions! I'll see you in the choir room! Finn, stay here." Mr. Schuester took charge, with a look that included Shelby and Santana.

Shelby followed Schue's lead, "Trouble Tones, I'll see you in our practice room! Santana, over here."

The rest of New Directions gathered their things and slowly filed out of the auditorium. Kurt took his time, moving slowly, but a look from Mr. Schue made it clear that nothing more would be said while they stayed.

Once they had left the auditorium, the chatter resumed. "Everybody knows what?" "What does she mean?" "What did Finn do?"

Kurt walked with Blaine back to the choir room, thinking silently. He had suspected that Santana was gay ever since Brittany dropped her little bombshell over the phone two years ago, "If sex were dating, then Santana and I would be dating." Then, last year, when Santana took Karofsky on as a beard… well, we all have to come out at our own pace. Or – we ought to be allowed to.

It was several minutes before Mr. Schue and Finn arrived. Finn sighed, and found a seat next to Rachel.

Mr. Schuester took a deep breath. "Okay, guys. You're all aware of the congressional race. Mr. Salazar provided an advance copy of his next ad to Mr. Hummel, an ad that attacks Coach Sylvester for her family values." Kurt blinked, he hadn't seen his father at school. Then he nodded, recognizing the same old 'family values' story. "The ad runs next Tuesday, right before the elections."

Tina looked confused. "What does that have to do with Santana?"

At that, Finn shifted to look at the Glee club, and sighed. "I had an argument with Santana last week. I asked her why she didn't just come out of the closet."

"Do you even –" Kurt began.

"How could you do that?" from Blaine, at the same time. They looked at each other, wordless communication, and then Kurt continued while Blaine settled back.

"Mr. Schue, if I may."

"Of course, Kurt."

"Coming out is a deeply personal experience. It's something that each person wants to do at their pace, when they are ready. Coming out is something we usually do gradually," (Blaine nodded at this.) "First to those people we trust the most: close friends, family members. And only gradually to the wider world. This attack ad? This wasn't Santana's choice. This is worse than… than anything the bullies did to me. And now Santana's going to be a target, not only to the bullies at this school, but to anyone in the viewing area of that ad!"

Kurt sat down in a huff. Blaine patted him on the shoulder.

"Okay, guys. For your homework tonight, I want you to think about what just happened, and what ideas you have to fix it. We'll discuss them tomorrow morning."

A/N

I actually wrote this over the holiday, but I was still working on re-viewing episodes to check my facts.