AN: I had a lot of unexpected free time over the summer. I was basically on call the entire summer and most of the fall, which was a very new experience for me. I decided to pass the time by watching old shows I never got around to watching. Glee was one of these. I never finished season six, so I thought I would start there and found I was completely lost. So I moved back to season 5, and then to season 4. Then I just decided to watch the entire series again. So I did.
The mid-season break of season 3 had one of the best cliffhangers, in my opinion. Seeing Quinn getting hit by a car then fading to black. I actually remember waiting over those months, agonizing over her fate. Luckily, I didn't have to wait this time, but that did get me thinking. Quinn gets hit by a car and the next scene is her in a wheelchair coming up to Finn and Rachel who are discussing whether or not they would have gotten married if Quinn wasn't hit by the car. The producer's never actually show what happened between the two scenes, which leaves plenty of room for writers like me to put in our two cents. And there have been many amazing fics about that time. Someone gets the call about Quinn and they all rush to the hospital.
But I started thinking: What if they didn't get the call. That led to what would change if Quinn was missing from that point on, which led to what their reactions would be like in the future if they suddenly saw her again, which finally led to why they wouldn't get the call in the first place. I thought if her mom or her friends didn't get the call about her accident, then the only other person who would is her dad.
This started as a little character piece about Russel Fabray. In my version, he does what he thinks is best for his daughter by keeping her away from the people he thinks are corrupting her. I totally think he is abusive, but I don't think he thinks that. I wanted to get into the mind of people like that, see how they justify what they do in their minds. I think I did a good job, but then the story kinda got away from me. It does venture back to Russel's mindset at key times, but overall it became a coming of age story. I hope you like it.
This story is complete. I know I usually write more sci-fi fantasy, but the story wouldn't leave me alone. It is my largest one to date, coming in just shy of 350 pages. I'm not sure how I'm going to post it. I think my usual way of posting a chapter a day is out. I'm going to try to post three or four chapters a week or so. Maybe more, maybe less.
Also, I have no medical training whatsoever, nor do I have any experience with legal or police matters. I try to get everything as realistic as possible. I research what I can, make up what I can't, and paint over the whole thing with the brush of creative license. This does get very dark at the end. Nothing too graphic, cause I just don't write that kind of stuff. I'll warn again when that chapter comes. Also, this is the first time I've ever actively written ship. Again, nothing graphic, cause I still don't do that, but I hope I did the characters and their relationships justice. Enough of my ramblings.
Also a warning for foul language. Santana does have a potty mouth.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Glee and all the characters is owned by Fox and a bunch of people who are smarter than I am. I'm only borrowing the characters to play with, and promise to put them back in the box when I'm done.
Russel Fabray was a righteous man. He was brought up in a strict Catholic family, and he brought those beliefs with him when it was time to raise a family of his own. His wife, Judy, had her flaws, but since she mostly agreed to whatever he said, he was fine pretending they were happy. Together they had two children. Daughters. Francine and Lucy.
Francine was the oldest. She was a few years older than her younger sister, Lucy. He raised both girls under the strict doctrine of the Catholic Church. He was, perhaps, stricter than most other families he knew, but he understood a strong personal belief was a cornerstone for the religion he loved, and he would stop at nothing to give his children that belief. Frannie had already grown, married a good Christian man, and the two of them had already moved out and started their life together, raising a family of their own. Russel couldn't be prouder.
Lucy, on the other hand, was always more of a mystery to him. She was sweet and caring, until they moved to Lima. She started gymnastics which led to cheerleading, changed her clothes, dyed her hair, and asked to be called by her middle name, Quinn. She also asked for a nose job. Russel had agreed, seeing how happy it would make her. Especially since he could still see the sweet innocent child he raised underneath the new exterior.
She was the perfect daughter until she had gotten pregnant. Over the course of one dinner his whole life changed. It was as if he didn't even know his little girl anymore. She didn't even have the decency to tell her parents herself, instead letting her boyfriend, Finn Hudson, tell them through song. All she could do was confirm what they suspected. Russel hated to admit it, but he saw red. Without even thinking, he threw his own flesh and blood out of the house.
He gave her thirty minutes to pack some things and get out. Judy was entirely unhelpful as always, sobbing quietly while he paced back and forth in the foyer while Quinn packed. Russel thought about going to his wife, but knew he needed to wait until Quinn left the house. It was the only way for both of them to truly see what the sin would cost. When he heard steps on the staircase, he hardened his heart and looked away, missing the look of fear on his daughter's face. He continued to look away, even as he desperately wanted to pull her into a hug and tell her everything would be okay. But then he would be encouraging this type of behavior, and he couldn't do that. He had to stay strong for her, for his precious little angel. It was the hardest thing he had ever done, letting her walk out that door, but he did what needed to be done. As soon as the door closed behind her, he turned to his wife, surprised to find disappointment in her eyes. He tried to go to her, but she stormed away almost as soon as his daughter did.
Sighing heavily, he sat down on the couch, putting his elbows on his knees and cradling his head in his hands. He thought over the last few hours, convinced he had done the right thing. He always did the right thing in regard to his family. He was a successful lawyer, but turned down a big promotion in New York City to keep his family in a safe and stable environment, even if it was in the middle of nowhere. He was constantly checking up on his children, making sure to know everything about their lives, especially their friends. He knew where they were every minute of every day. How could something like this happen?
Growling in frustration, he stood and made his way to the liquor cabinet. He saw the door was open and Judy's favorite bottle of scotch was missing. That fact didn't stop him from pouring himself a very generous helping of whiskey though. He knew Judy had problems, her love of drink being one of them, but he knew that going into the marriage. People had flaws but God loved them anyway.
He took a generous swig from his glass, almost downing all the liquid. It burned its way down his throat but then he felt a warmth spread out through his body, dispelling the coldness that had settled when Quinn confirmed her shocking news. He grabbed the bottle to pour another drink then shrugged and instead took the bottle back to the couch with him. He took a swig, not bothering with the glass this time, and thought about what needed to happen when Quinn came home. New rules definitely needed to be established. She needed new friends too. Together they would go down to the church and seek advice from the priest. Surely, he had counseled other women in similar predicaments and would know the best way to atone for this sin. With a plan in mind, he sat down and waited for his baby to come home.
And waited.
And waited.
Around midnight he started nursing his whiskey again while he waited. He knew she didn't have anywhere else to go and would have to come back here. That was why he only gave her thirty minutes. By morning she still hadn't shown up. Judy came back, grabbing another bottle before retreating to whichever part of the house she spent the night in. Russel again tried to talk to her, but she was obviously drunk and glared at him the whole time. It was then that Russel started to think that maybe Judy's influence on Quinn was to blame. It was the first time he doubted his perfect family. Maybe letting someone as flawed as Judy near his innocent children was a mistake? He sighed as he thought again about his youngest daughter. She should have been home by now, pleading with him to help her redeem herself in the eyes of the Lord, fully understanding the weight of her sin by now, but she was still missing. He put the mostly full bottle of whiskey back as he slowly started getting ready for work.
During the day, he had an epiphany. Quinn had friends, and while he doubted she would shame the family by telling them about the pregnancy, he was certain she would be able to stay with them for a few nights. No wonder she didn't come home as soon as he expected. She would soon though, she couldn't spend more than a couple nights without them getting suspicious. Soon she would need to come back home and he would help her get back on track. Smiling, he pushed his mental calendar back two weeks as he focused on his job.
Two weeks became four, which soon became six. At eight weeks Russel needed to rethink his plan. He hadn't bothered looking for Quinn, knowing she would need to return home at some point, but he couldn't go looking for her now either. Too much time had passed. Even if nobody figured out why he was looking for his youngest daughter, the fact that it had been two months since he last saw her and was now only starting to look would be hard to explain. He tried going to Judy, trying to explain his actions to her so they could come up with a plan together, but when he arrived home she was already drunk. He looked curiously at the liquor cabinet. What was it that had such a hold on his imperfect wife? How could she continually drink herself into oblivion? Was that the only peace she could find? Hesitantly he grabbed the whiskey bottle and took a small sip.
That was the first time he over-indulged in his whiskey. And the first time he felt peace since the whole nightmare started. He didn't feel that peace when he woke up the next morning. While that was not his first time drinking the alcohol, he had never drunk himself into oblivion before, usually just having a small nightcap or two after work. That morning he swore he would never touch alcohol again, but fate had other ideas. He had his worst day ever at work, loosing cases that were a sure win, spilling coffee all over several important case files, and even being late for court when he tried to clean up after himself. By the end of the day he reached for the whiskey bottle almost reverently, wishing the liquid would take him away from his life for a moment. He got his wish, but he lost much more than a moment. Months passed when he suddenly woke up on the couch from a drunken haze. The same couch Judy passed out on more than once. He suddenly realized he had a problem. More problems than he realized.
He was surprised to find that almost seven months had passed since Quinn told them her news. Her due date must be approaching soon, and he still hadn't seen or heard from his daughter. He still thought she had nowhere to go and would be forced to return home, only now he wondered if it was going to be with a baby or not. Worse, word had gotten around the small town about the pregnant teen. Nobody confronted him directly, but he could feel the stares and whispers as he passed. His world was shattering and it was only going to get worse.
He returned home one night to find two suitcases packed with all his things. Judy was glaring at him from behind. "I saw you with that tattooed freak!" she accused heatedly. It took him a minute for a half-formed memory to come to him. He had run out of whiskey halfway through the night and went on a liquor run. At the store he met Lola, a tattoo artist who also ran out of tequila and was getting more. They hit it off immediately and left the store together, their precious cargo clutched firmly in their hands. Russel shook his head as his memory stopped there. He couldn't even be sure what happened after they left the store. All he knew is he woke up the next morning in his bed, alone. "Get out!" Judy screeched, pushing the suitcase toward him.
He didn't move until she pulled out his precious bottle of whiskey and threw it out the door. He dived after it, grimacing when he missed and it smashed on the concrete. He stared at the puddle longingly before hearing the door slam. He looked up to find Judy had pushed the suitcases out the door before slamming it. He tried his keys, but she had obviously changed the locks before he got home. Furious, he started punching the door. After a few minutes, he calmed down, gathered his belongings, and went to a hotel, stopping by the liquor store first.
He indulged in his self-pity for a few hours before examining what went wrong in his life. As he sipped his whiskey he had another epiphany. Judy. Her wickedness had obviously influenced the family more than he realized. How could he expect his innocent children to remain pure with that abomination tainting the entire family? Thankfully Fran escaped unharmed, but poor Quinn took the brunt of that unholy influence. No wonder she had gotten pregnant. Russel was just thankful that was the extent of her punishment. Without Judy's negative influence, Quinn would come to her senses. She would return to her father, just like she was supposed to, and together they would repent for her sins and become better Christians. He just needed to be patient, just for a little longer.
He also needed to prepare. First, he needed a place to that was free of his wife's influence. He needed to leave town, but still be close enough for Quinn to come home. Thankfully, the law office where he worked had branches in several town in Ohio. A quick chat with his boss and he got his transfer back to Fairbrook. A few weeks later he was all set up in a small house, perfect for reconnecting with his daughter and his faith. He was certain he was free of Judy's corruption and positive Quinn would show up at his doorstep any day. Instead he received divorce papers.
He frowned when the lawyer handed him the papers, but he realistically knew this was coming. While he was strongly in support of marriage lasting until death as the church taught, he was slowly realizing his wife wasn't as committed to their faith as he thought she was. While he was fine staying in the marriage, even if they did live in different towns, she apparently wasn't. He took his whiskey bottle to the couch and read the papers.
The split seamed relatively straight forward. They both came from wealthy families so money wasn't an issue. The only thing she truly wanted was the house in Lima. He had no problem with that. He spent most his time at the office or in court, while she was the one to befriend the neighbors and represent the family socially. She did offer him an opportunity to return and claim the remainder of his things, if he wanted.
He debated challenging her before he realized he would be doing it out of spite and that wasn't the Christian way. He checked the alimony amount she requested once again. It was a measly sum, one he could easily afford, and would cover little more than the upkeep on the house. He was about to sign when one more amount caught his eye.
Child support. She was asking for child support. He was momentarily confused. Francine was gone, grown with a family of her own, and Quinn would be returning to him once it was safe to do so. Why would she need child support? He frowned, neatly folding the documents and putting them safely to the side before grabbing his phone. A few calls later and he was stunned.
Quinn had returned home. To her mother. To the same woman whose influence allowed her to become pregnant in the first place. He felt betrayal stab his heart. He still loved his daughter. He paid for her medical bills, even though he was deeply ashamed of her pregnancy. He was waiting for her to come home, so they could be a family again. Why would she do this? He fell to his knees, cradling his whiskey, pleading with God to help him understand. It was then that he had his third epiphany. Judy had tainted him as well.
He looked between the empty glass in his hand and the nearly empty bottle on the coffee table. He had never drunk this much, until he met Judy. It was just one of the ways she was tainting him and he suddenly understood why Quinn had not returned to him. He was unworthy. He needed to reaffirm his commitment to God. Once he had again proven his worth Quinn would come back, and he would help save her as well.
With a new plan in mind he began devoting his life to his church, as he had been brought up to do. Giving up the drink was harder than he thought it would be. He found he could manage as long as he didn't over indulge, getting back to the occasional nightcap after work or with colleagues. He felt peace for the first time since his daughter gave him the shocking news, and knew that God would forgive him. He signed the papers and sent them back to Judy and began preparing for Quinn's arrival. Once he had proven his worth to God, his daughter would be sent back to him. He needed to be ready.
Then one day it finally happened.