Like Ashes to the Wind

By Muirnin Cocan

Disclaimer: I neither own nor claim any other rights in the characters and other concepts created for Glee. I make no money, nor do I seek any commercial advantage from this work. As such it constitutes "Fair Use" as defined in 17 U.S.C. §107. FAIR USE " Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use."

Author's Note: This story sort of popped in my head and wouldn't leave me the fuck alone so I am not sure where it is going or how it is going to react with the rest of the stories I have written …

Chapter 1: The Wind

I listen to the wind

To the wind of my soul

Where I'll end up well I think,

Only God really knows

I've sat upon the setting sun

But never, never never never

I never wanted water once

No, never, never, never

I listen to my words but

They fall far below

I let my music take me where

My heart wants to go

I swam upon the devil's lake

But never, never never never

I'll never make the same mistake

No, never, never, never

(Cat Stevens – The Wind)

Kurt and Rachel had flown back to Lima to see Grease using the Jet Blue Vouchers that Cassie July had given them … as they sat in the audience they did as Rachel had told Kurt earlier … they held hands, they laughed, they applauded … they enjoyed the endeavors that their friends had done.

It was not long after the Teen Angel scene with Blaine ... but before Santana was supposed to start singing her big number there was a loud pop … The power went off in the auditorium … and a horrible rumble sounded around them.

Kurt, still shaken by watching Blaine's performance and Rachel who would see quick glimpses of Finn in the wings, held on to each other for dear life not sure what bizarre happening had occurred. For the next minute the rumbling went on then suddenly the sound of ripping and tearing sounded … then silence … that stillness after a storm that scares you because it's too quiet.

"Are you alright Rachel?" Kurt asked very softly … afraid to cut into the silence.

"Yeah … what about you?" Rachel asked just as softly.

"Just scared beyond belief … I can't see anything … too bad neither of us smoke then we would have some matches" Kurt said jokingly.

"I don't smoke … but I do have a lighter …" at Kurt's shocked look she added "I use it for my eye pencil …" Rachel said as she reached into her bag and pulled out a disposable lighter that was covered by a silver cover that had a massive rose on it. "Here"

"Nice … where did you find this at?" Kurt said as he lit the lighter to get an idea about what was happening around them.

"The smoke shop over on 49th … they have the best assortment of incense and Oh my God …" Rachel rattled on as she looked around them … bodies were strewn all over the place some not moving others were. "Look is that Wade … I mean Unique?" Rachel said as she carefully stepped over a couple of the bodies but still holding Kurt's hand to get to the new glee club member.

Seeing him in boys clothes … he addressed him in the masculine "Are you alright Wade?" Kurt asked as they had reached the young transgender.

"I just got here … I was supposed to play Rizzo … my parents thought I would be hurt … didn't want me to and Coach Sylvester refused to allow me to play her so … Oh my God what's happened in here …"

They looked around as more people took the clue from Rachel and lit their lighters … a few of them had flash lights and others used their cell phones for illumination.

"Hey is that Mr Schue?" Rachel asked Kurt and Wade.

"I think it is … let's go over there … and then make our way to back stage see if the rest of the cast is alright." Wade said as Kurt and Rachel looked at each other … being back in Lima had been beyond difficult for the both of them.

William Schuester their former glee club instructor … had gone to Washington DC to take part of a blue ribbon panel to help with the arts in America … he had come back to town from Washington DC just to see the show … his fiancée Emma Pillsbury seated next to him shaking terribly. Wade walked up to them both and got their attention.

"Oh guys … good you are alright … I haven't gotten backstage yet … Kurt … Rachel can you go back there and see if you can find anyone please … I need to stay here with Emma. Unique I need you to see who else you can find out here … I think I saw Sue and Figgins near the back row."

After giving Mr Schue a hug Kurt and Rachel made their way to the backstage area where conditions were even worse than what they were in the audience section.

"Oh Kurt … if it's this bad back here …" Rachel said starting to cry …

"We need to be strong for each other … remember our pact … just keep hold of my hand and we will be here for each other … Here I am going to see if I can make a torch or something …" Kurt said as he grabbed a broomstick and then tore a huge chunk off the curtains. Using the lighter he lit the makeshift torch and held it aloft.

What they saw was horrifying. A whole section of the wall that was off the stage right wing of the theater was blown down and there were cries of agony all around them. Santana was sat holding Brittany who was bleeding from a cut on the side of her head.

Sam, Joe and Mike were pulling stones from Tina and Sugar who were conscious and but crying. The guy who had played Danny was holding the girl who played Sandy … and she was crying hysterically. There was a black guy neither knew who was helping a blonde girl get to Artie whose chair had tipped over and was laying on the ground.

"FINN!" Rachel screamed out as she let go of Kurt's hand and ran to where she assumed he would have stood … Her years of theater work taught her that a good director had one of two places he would have been either up in the production booth that ran the lights which she knew for a certanty that he would not have gone … or in the stage right wings …

Kurt seeing where Rachel was headed followed since Finn was his brother … but also Blaine had been sticking close to Finn and knowing the two men was positive … they would have stood together … when she saw the dark brown patent leather shoe that was in the same size of Finn laying under a huge chunk of wall she screamed for some help.

Rachel let go of Kurt's hand and ran to where she had seen Finn's shoe laying and began trying to shift the rocks from him as well … Kurt had made his way over and began shifting rubble from the bodies of their loved ones. Securing the torch to give them light they worked together to try to reach the men who had meant so much to them … after a great deal of effort and with the help of some others Rachel had been able to get Finn's lifeless body uncovered … his body bloody and broken from the debris that she had removed.

She grabbed a piece of cloth and tried to wet it with her tongue as she gently tried to wipe the dirt and blood off of his face … even though he was no longer alive.

"Oh Finn … you are a bit of a mess … don't want your mom to see you like this … we'll get you all cleaned up and you will be good as new … I am so sorry Finn … I shouldn't have yelled at you … you know how much I love you … come on baby … baby? … wake up … Finn? …" She turned to Kurt who was cradling Blaine's lifeless body in his lap. "Kurt … your brother isn't waking up … can you wake him up please … I have something really important to tell him …"

"Rachel … he's with Blaine honey …" Kurt said in tears as he rocked the love of his life in his arms.

"Well they need to come back to us … we need them …" Rachel said sobbing … "They are being so … rude … and selfish … and don't they know … we came all this way for them and then they leave us … how fair is that …"

Kurt gently laid Blaine's head down on the ground … gave his forehead one last kiss and crawled over to where Rachel sat with his brother in her arms crying uncontrollably. "Come on doll … let's let the other's do their thing."

"Oh Kurt … what are we going to do now …" Rachel said as she wrapped her arms around her best friend and together they cried.

"I wish I knew honey … I wish I knew …" Kurt said.

Several hours later the sky started to lighten and sunlight could be seen coming in through the roof that was missing. Rachel had traded her short skirt for a pair of black slacks so that she could get more of the debris cleared … She had found some of the previous costumes on a rack and had no problem finding something in her size.

What they knew so far was that out of the 650 seats that was sold out in the theater only 231 of the people who had sat in those seats had survived … Kurt had with the help of a couple of other men who had come backstage to help moved the bodies off to the side …

There had been 25 people who were associated with the show … but there were three that had devastated the pair on visit from New York City … Finn, Blaine and devastatingly … Mercedes Jones …

Her body had been found all but bled out from the severe amount of damage done to her left leg … she had stayed conscious long enough to speak to Rachel and Kurt. Her last words were ones of love and friendship … and letting the pair know that their men had love them desperately and had tried to get to the roommates … to convince them how much they loved Rachel and Kurt … and to give them a chance to let them love them one more time.

When Mercedes passed the roommates clung to each other grieving for all the friends that had been hurt in this horrible event … but also for their personal losses … for Finn … for Blaine … Sam had come over to them and grieved for Mercedes' loss … even though they had broken up when she had moved to California … he had loved her as well.

Kurt and Rachel were devastated and had chosen to head back home … to New York … with their lovers gone there was nothing left for them in Lima … As they walked to the nearest exit to head to the parking lot … upon opening the doors what they were met with was even more confusing than what was behind them.

Waves crashed against the rocks of a shore line that was a few dozen yards away from the building. Rachel turned and looked at Kurt who in turn doing his best Judy Garland impression said "Toto … I don't think we are in Ohio anymore …"

Author's other notes: Ok, so maybe I watched a bit too much LOST … or perhaps I was thinking too much about Wicked or Great and Powerful Oz or the original the one the only Wizard of Oz … in any case … the school … or what's left of the school is NOT in Ohio anymore … not even sure where on Earth it is … if this is even Earth … it could have gone through a Time Vortex ala Doctor Who … who knows … this one will take a while to write as I have no clue where it is going … But thanks for reading it and remember … FEED MY ADDICTION!

A second note regarding this story ... Because of the lack of reviews I may or may continue to update it ... but no matter what ... I have changed the title ... and that may change again as well ... who knows ... its that time of the year and I tend to get really fucking depressed ...