A/N: Hi there! Hope you enjoy this. Not sure how long I'm going to make it, so I guess I'll just play it by ear. I'm working on another fic, as well.
Rachel decides not to keep the baby, and Quinn is the only one who really knows what that decision is like. Their friendship grows stronger...
Let me know what you all think!
Raggy
Rachel's heart was hammering faster than it ever had in her life. And that wasn't just her brain telling her that – she was quite positive she had never been so scared in her life.
She was known for overdramatizing things, but this?
Couldn't be overstated.
Luckily, Quinn was busy searching for the street they needed to turn on, or she might notice Rachel's white face and clenched knuckles.
Quinn Fabray.
Of all the people to take her here.
Quinn Fabray.
The person who caused Rachel's feelings the most confusion.
But Quinn understood this choice better than anyone.
She just hadn't made it herself.
The blonde found the turn, and they headed down a side street, past an office building.
Rachel saw the protesters before she saw their destination.
Columbus Women's Clinic.
The little car passed a flat building and turned right into a tiny parking lot. Rachel couldn't help but stare at the assorted signs held by the ten or so people on the lawn.
Bible verses.
"It's a child, not a choice."
A picture of a fetus.
People praying with rosaries.
There were a few other cars in the lot, but all of them were in spaces farther back. A potbellied man in a security guard uniform waved Quinn into the second parking spot, a mere ten yards from the closest protester.
She put it in park and turned to Rachel.
"Hey," she said simply.
Rachel gulped.
"Hey…"
Quinn's brow furrowed. "You ready for this?"
Rachel looked past her to the protesters.
"No."
Quinn stayed silent.
Two young women in bright teal windbreakers with "CLINIC VOLUNTEER" plastered across the front were slowly approaching.
The blonde reached over and lightly wrapped her right arm around Rachel's shoulder.
"I know this is tough."
Rachel stared at her, with eyes that must have looked like a deer in the headlights.
"But you said yourself, it was the best place you found. You felt safe in your initial visit, the nurses were friendly and the doctor talked you through everything."
"Yeah," said Rachel through a mouth full of dry heat.
"I'll be right there when you're done."
"Yeah…"
All Rachel could do was nod weakly. Her heart was hammering, there was a knot in the pit of her stomach that had to be the fetus protesting.
But she had to do this.
Right?
Quinn turned and nodded to the dark-haired woman in the jacket who had appeared at her door. She was probably no more than 20 herself. She smiled and opened Quinn's door.
A tall, auburn-haired woman, who must have also been in her early twenties, opened Rachel's door and offered her a hand out.
The combination of the slightly chilly May morning and the now-audible shouts made her breath catch as she looked to the sidewalk that led to the building.
A couple was being escorted to the door by another volunteer in teal. The man had his arm around his girl's waist, and their heads were down as they hurried to the front door.
"Be a man and stand up for your unborn child!" one man hollered. "Stand up for what's right!"
"Ma'am, it's not too late!" another cried. "If you'd just come talk to me, I can help you be saved!"
The bearded guy in teal opened the door for the young couple, then marched back down the sidewalk without a glance at the protesters.
"You're sick!" one woman yelled to him. "You're helping people kill their babies!"
The young man ignored them and went to stand next to the security guard.
"Come on," said the woman next to Rachel. "We'll take you to the door."
They started walking. Rachel could feel the others' eyes on her as the two women walking with her and Quinn started chattering to block out the shouts.
"It's kind of cold today for how late in the season it is –"
"—but these clowns over here are providing just enough hot air today—"
"MISS! Don't let your friend kill her baby!"
Fifteen yards from the door.
"—there is coffee and hot chocolate in the waiting room, and the nurses will take really good care of you –"
"Thou shalt not kill! Protect your baby! Protect your soul!"
"-And I think they have some sports on if you like sports. I like soccer, so I wish I could be in there watching the Champions League!"
Eight yards.
Rachel heard the praying as they passed perpendicular to the people with rosaries.
"Jesus died for our sins, don't let him down! There is still time to change your mind!"
Five yards, and the shorter woman ran ahead to open the door.
"Well, they'll take good care of you in there, and hopefully it will be a little bit warmer when you get back out!" she said as the taller woman stopped walking and smiled at them.
"You don't have to make any more mistakes! Don't trade a sin for a sin!"
"Thank you," said Quinn. She put her hand on Rachel's back, guided her through the door.
The other women swung it shut.
They were in, with that last shout still ringing in their ears.
As cozy as they tried to make it, this was still a doctor's office.
It smelled like one. Looked like one. Bright lights, magazines, televisions, white walls, posters of flowers and lighthouses and rocks. Rachel sat, filling out forms and bouncing her legs nervously as Quinn aimlessly watched people in cheery-looking scrubs wander around.
The couple that came in before them was huddled together over a magazine. Two other women, probably mother and daughter, were sitting in silence.
"Can you sign as my support person?" Rachel whispered. She thrust the clipboard at Quinn, who looked for the spot and signed her name.
"Thanks," the brunette said stiltedly, rising and promptly dropping the papers on the ground. The clipboard's clatter echoed in the silent room. "Shit…"
Quinn moved to help, but one of the techs was already crouching down to pick them up.
"Sit down, honey, I'll take care of these," she said with a smile.
Rachel slumped back down in the chair.
Quinn glanced sideways at her, and felt a pang of guilt and sympathy.
She picked up People, waved it in front of the brunette's face. "Hey, want to look at celebrities' ugly cameo shots?"
Rachel shook her head.
"Need any coffee?"
"Nah."
"…do you want to talk…?"
Rachel sighed.
"I think I'm okay, this is just…weird. The whole thing." She leaned closer to Quinn and her tone got even softer. "I know this is best for my career and for my finances. For my future. And after I found out what Brody did with his life…I can't have him in my life. I can't raise his child. He doesn't love me, anyway. And I don't love him.
"The prayers and the Jesus signs don't bother me. But something is telling me this isn't right… I know it's my choice. But…is it the easy way out? Is it just a decision I'm making to be selfish?"
She looked up at Quinn.
And if she was expecting some sort of pep talk, the blonde had none to offer.
"I don't know, Rachel. I'm sorry."
Rachel sighed, tipped her head back. Quinn frowned.
"I wish I knew what to say."
"It's all right," Rachel whispered, staring at the ceiling. "Thank you for being here with me."
"I seem to be the one you go to with your big surgeries," Quinn said, her mouth twitching up with a smile. "Remember the nose job that almost was?"
She got a weak chuckle at that.
A nurse appeared out of a door and called the girl and her mom back. Another woman, probably in her thirties, walked in with a man trailing behind. They signed in and sat to fill out their paperwork.
"Ms. Berry?"
Quinn felt the little brunette jump next to her, and they both stood hurriedly.
A skinny, middle-aged man in Snoopy scrubs smiled at them.
"I'm Jamie. Come on, I'll take you back."
Rachel turned to Quinn, wide-eyed.
"It's okay," Quinn said. "I'll be waiting for you."
She hesitated, and then put a comforting hand on the brunette's back.
Rachel had been here before, to get her initial consolation. But Quinn wasn't with her at the time, so she couldn't help but feel a bit queasy in the back rooms. The white walls got whiter and the hospital-like smell grew stronger as the nurse led them through a hallway and around a corner, into what looked like another waiting room.
"So the whole procedure should take about hour, okay?" said Jamie. "You took the medicine we gave you, so you should be good to go once the doctor is available. It may be a little longer than half an hour for the actual surgery, depending how your cervix looks for the D&E."
Rachel gave a small nod.
Quinn felt queasy.
"Ms. Fabray, we ask that you wait here or in the TV room down the hall. There is a computer there if you need to check your email. We have coffee and snacks for you. When Ms. Berry is done, we'll have her sit in the operation room until she feels okay to walk after her sedation."
Rachel looked terrified.
Quinn rubbed her hand over the shorter girl's back.
She saw tears forming, and fought to control the sudden surge of emotions she felt.
The nurse smiled sympathetically.
"I understand if you're nervous. People cry in here a few times a day. It's a hard thing." He paused. "Do you need to sit out here for a minute?"
Rachel stepped forward and shook her head.
"No…no. Let's do it."
"Okay," Jamie said. "Follow me."
Rachel stayed a few steps behind him, turned left, and went down another corridor.
And Quinn was left to wait.
