Title: Across The Hall
Author: muzicchick13
Pairing/Character(s): Rachel/Quinn
Rating: PG13
Spoilers: Up to Preggers.
Summary: Quinn's dealing with morning sickness and discovering what's it's like to be the odd girl out. Rachel discovers that maybe having friends is a good thing. Hotel!fic.
"You ask them!"
"No you do it!"
"Ugh, this is humiliating."
Rachel was the first one to hear the not-so-hushed voices outside their hotel room, followed by Tina, who mumbled incoherently in her sleep, and then Mercedes, "somebody better tell those damn Cheerios to shut the hell up!"
Taking it upon herself to be the peace-keeper Rachel gently lifted the covers and climbed out of the bed she'd been sharing with Tina. She padded softly to the the door and opened it part way, revealing two Cheerios standing awkwardly in the middle of the hall, pillows clutched in their hands.
"Brittany, Santana," Rachel acknowledged them curtly, "is there something we can help you with?"
Rachel watched as they shifted awkwardly, both refusing to be the one to speak. Rachel was about to close the door on them when Santana finally spoke.
"It's Quinn, she's been in the bathroom dry heaving for like an hour." She said, without an ounce of concern in her voice.
Brittany nodded. "We can't get any sleep, so we were wondering..." She trailed off.
"We were wondering if we could crash in here." Santana finished for her.
Rachel's eyebrows furrowed as she looked past the two Cheerios, across the hall to where their door still stood ajar from their hasty departure.
"You're just going to leave her in there by herself?" Rachel asked, her eyes glancing back and forth from the two girls to the open door.
"It's really gross." Brittany said, matter-of-factly.
"And besides," Santana started, finally beginning to appear a little uneasy at their desertion of their friend, "it's not like she isn't used to it by now."
Rachel nodded absentmindedly, "Well I'm not sure if-" Rachel jumped as Mercedes' voice boomed from behind her.
"I don't care if I end up gettin' spooned, ya'll better shutcha mouths and the door!"
"Great!" Brittany quipped, pushing by Rachel into the room.
"Thanks." Santana said to Rachel, following her teammate.
Rachel nodded and cast a glance at the open door across from her. Deciding it probably wasn't a good idea to just leave the door open all night, she crossed the hall to close it. She paused, her hand on the door handle. She could hear faint sounds coming from inside. Her insides churned and she felt a distinct tightening in her chest.
She'd always wondered how it felt to be Quinn Fabray. To be the popular girl, the one everyone liked and wanted to be around. She envied her at times, she admitted, but now the roles were reversed. Now she was the one with the roomful of, well maybe not friends, but people...people who voluntarily tolerated her presence, and Quinn was the one alone. In that moment, Rachel realized maybe it wasn't so great being Quinn Fabray. On the contrary, right about now, it sounded like it was quite awful being her. So, as quickly and quietly as she could, Rachel went back into her room, grabbed some clothes and her room key and closed the door behind her as she left.
She paused momentarily before entering Quinn's room. It was stuffy inside so, after she shut the door, she moved across the room and opened the window. She also turned on the AC to get some air flowing in the room. She walked slowly towards the bathroom, and took a few deep breaths before hesitantly pushing the door open.
Quinn was bent double over the toilet her back to Rachel, holding her hair back with one hand. It seemed, to Rachel, that the worst of it was over but Quinn still looked miserable. Beads of sweat dotted her forehead and her eyes drooped wearily.
Rachel's eyes scanned the counter top, finally landing on what she was looking for. She moved to Quinn's side and gently ran her hands through the other girls hair, pulling it into a ponytail so that Quinn could finally let her arm rest. Quinn slowly opened her eyes at the contact. They fell on Rachel and she groaned slightly.
"I know," Rachel said in response, "I'm the last person you want to see right now." Quinn didn't respond, simply opting to let her eyes drift shut again. Rachel took that as a good sign and moved to the sink again, wetting a washcloth with cool water. She went to kneel next Quinn but stopped short.
"Oh ew." She said, nearly gagging. "Quinn I have to flush this." She reached for the handle and since Quinn made no attempts to stop her, she flushed the remnants of Quinn's dinner down the toilet.
No longer feeling queasy, Rachel gently begin dabbing Quinn's forehead with the washcloth. Still getting no resistance from the blonde, Rachel moved the cloth to her cheeks and neck.
"So I thought morning sickness was supposed to be kind of a morning thing." Rachel murmured gently. Quinn turned to regard Rachel, as if searching for some ulterior motive the brunette might have had for helping her. But after a few moments, her mouth quirked into something of a bitter smile.
"That makes two of us." She said, her voice ragged. Rachel smiled gently.
"Is there anything I can get you?" She asked.
Quinn took a moment to reply, still weary of Rachel's concern for her.
"Water would be really nice." Rachel nodded and stood. She turned to the sink and grabbed a cup, filling it with water. She also rinsed the washcloth, cooling it down again.
"Here." Rachel said, handing the cup to Quinn. "Make sure you take little sips, we don't want you getting sick again." Quinn chuckled into the cup. "What?" Rachel asked, moving the washcloth along Quinn's arms.
"I'm still trying to figure out why you're being so nice to me." She said, setting the water cup down beside her and slowly taking the cloth from Rachel.
"I know what it's like to be a social pariah." Rachel stated simply. "And I always thought I didn't care that I was an outcast, I thought it didn't matter." Her forehead creased as she said the words aloud, having been pondering the same thoughts since Brittany and Santana knocked on her door. "But it turns out, it does matter." She met Quinn's eyes briefly. The blonde's eyebrows were furrowed in thought as she listened to Rachel's confession. "I don't want to be that girl who gets the Slushies thrown at her anymore." Quinn blanched visibly at the mention of the beverage. "Sorry," Rachel said quickly, "I just mean that, I know what it's like to have everyone turn their back on you when you need them the most. And I don't want you to have to go through that, I don't want anyone to go through that."
Quinn nodded and looked away, not knowing how to respond. A lock of hair fall into her face and Rachel, without thinking, reached up and tucked it behind the blonde's ear. "I swear I'm not going to blackmail you or anything." Quinn laughed gently, looking towards Rachel. "I just want to help."
"Can you help me get to bed?" Quinn asked tentatively. Rachel nodded, then gently helped Quinn into a standing position. After a few unsteady moments, Quinn moved to the sink. "I'm just gonna brush my teeth real quick."
Rachel kept a hand placed gently on the small of her back. "I'll be right here."
After Quinn brushed her teeth they moved slowly to the nearest bed. Once Quinn was settled Rachel went back into the bathroom and grabbed some more water.
"Here." She said, placing it on the nightstand.
"Thank you." Quinn replied, then she finally noticed the empty bed next to her. "Some friends huh?" She said, nodding towards it.
"I wouldn't really know." Rachel said simply, sitting down on the empty bed. Quinn watched her for a few minutes as Rachel seemed content to just sit there. Quinn wondered idly who would be there for Rachel if she were the one sick to her stomach in a hotel room at 1 in the morning.
"Will you please stay with me?" Quinn said suddenly, making Rachel jump slightly.
"I wasn't sure if it was alright..." Rachel said quietly.
"It's alright." Quinn replied. Rachel started to get into the other bed when Quinn stopped her. "Actually, would you sleep over here?"
"With you?" Rachel asked.
Quinn nodded. "Yeah, with me." Rachel noticed suddenly that Quinn was crying, tears were rolling down her cheeks. "It's just...you were right Rachel. All those years of torturing you, making you feel like you were nothing. And now I know...I know what it's like and it's horrible and I feel horrible for making you feel horrible. But mostly it's just...horrible and all I want is to feel like someone cares and I want to feel needed and loved and as much as Finn says he does I know he's only saying it because of the baby and I really wish I could stop rambling and crying but my hormones are out of control and will you please stay here with me?"
Rachel didn't say anything, she simply nodded and moved to the other side of Quinn's bed. As soon as she got in Quinn wrapped her arms around her, sobbing into Rachel's shoulder. Rachel settled herself into the bed and began running her hand through Quinn's hair, murmuring reassuring words against the blonde's forehead. Eventually Quinn's sobs quieted, her breathing slowed and Rachel knew she was asleep. It wasn't long after that Rachel let herself drift off as well.
Neither of them woke until the next morning when Brittany and Santana came into the room to grab some clothes. Rachel feigned sleep as she heard them stop and whisper, obviously scandalized by the sight of Quinn, still wrapped around Rachel, in bed. Rachel held her breath as they exited, sure that the noise would have woken Quinn, afraid that the wonderful warmth and comfort she was feeling would soon be coming to an end. Quinn groaned slightly and Rachel felt her head lift from her shoulder. Rachel braced for the outburst she knew was coming...except it never did. She felt Quinn reach up and tuck a strand of hair behind Rachel's ear, before placing her head softly on Rachel's shoulder once again. Rachel sighed, more loudly than she had intended but she needn't have worried. She felt Quinn squeeze her gently as she sighed back.