Reunited – Chapter 2

After Finn had met with his grad tutor Jillian on Monday, he went to his first session of his two summer school classes on Tuesday. He had classes and labs in the morning and football all afternoon.

Entering the locker room on Wednesday, two of the assistant coaches motioned for Finn to join them in an office.

"Finn," one them started. "We have some good news and some okay news for you."

"What's the good news?" asked Finn.

"The coaching staff has decided to groom you for the future quarterback position, but the okay news is that the staff has decided to red shirt you this year."

"What exactly does that mean?" asked Finn confused.

"What that means is that you'll practice with the team and learn all that you can, but you'll not play in actual games this year. It gives you time to learn, and gives you an extra year of eligibility is case you're with us for five years. We've been looking at your academic record, and this extra time will give you time to catch up."

Finn didn't say anything, but felt the disappointment seeping over him.

"This is good news, son. We're going to do everything that we can to get you ready to take over as the Buckeyes starting quarterback in the future, and this gives us time without using up your four years of eligibility. To place you on the team now would probably mean that you'd be a bench warmer all season. It also gives the university time to get you up to speed academically. We wouldn't want our starting quarterback on academic suspension."

"If you prove your worth, that partial scholarship has the potential of being bumped up to a full ride. We also want you to know that we're offering this same deal to Sam Evans. We'll be grooming his as your backup. "

Now that all of this was sinking in, Finn could see that this was a win-win situation for him.

"We've some paper work to complete for your red shirt status, but other than that, you'll continue here at summer camp and learn all that you can. Do you have any questions?"

"Not at the moment." Finn concluded. "Thank you for taking such an interest in me. I promise I won't let you down."

"Well hit the showers and we'll see you tomorrow afternoon. And son, I know that taking these summer school classes must feel degrading, but take advantage of them. The athletic department is paying for your tutor so use that edge as well. We wouldn't be doing this if we didn't see your potential."

"Yes sir," said Finn as the two assistant coaches left the room.

Finn showered and saw Sam getting dressed in the locker room.

"Did the assistant coaches talk to you?" Finn asked Sam.

"Yeah," said Sam. "I get to play second fiddle to you again. But watch out, I'm still hot on your heels, and I know all of your moves."

Finn gave Sam his half smile before he said, "Well one injury and the job's yours. Remember when you got your shoulder dislocated and I took over for you?"

"Yeah, and you never gave the job back." Said Sam as the two of them headed for the door.

Sam continued, "Before I forget, Quinn and I may have a solution for keeping Rachel from meeting Jillian this weekend. Quinn suggested that we take my Tahoe, and we go to Lima this weekend instead of Rachel coming down here to see you. Quinn said that she would drive and you and I can study and get some homework done while we're on the road."

"Sounds like a plan to me," beamed Finn. "I do have some reading and writing to do for my classes, and you and I can help each other learn these plays. Are you sure that Quinn is okay driving?"

"It was her idea," Sam answered. "But the next weekend, you're on your own bro. Me and my lady have some plans."

"You're so lucky that you and Quinn are going to the same school," said Finn. "Let me call Rachel and run this change of plans by her."

"Tell her that we've some news from the football staff that we want to share with our families. It's the truth and it's a good reason to come home," said Sam reaching for the passenger door of Finn's truck.

Finn and Sam drove back to their dorm as Finn talked to Rachel on his cell phone. She was already packed and ready to make the trip to Columbus, but her luggage could wait until another weekend. She was just so glad that she was going to get to see him one way or the other.

Sam and Finn made it back to their dorm and had just entered their room when Finn asked Sam, "How did your first meeting go with your tutor?"

"Actually very well," said Sam. "He's not as bad as you made him out to be. He's a special education major going for his masters. When he found out that I was dyslexic, he requested me. Seems that dyslexia has been the focus of his education and he wants to work with school kids who have it."

"So you're going to be his guinea pig?" said Finn smiling.

"No, I don't think so," said Sam. "He's already finished all of his clinical work. He needs the money for student loans, so he thought that he might be able to help me. Seems that he is dyslexic too, but has been able to learn how to cope with it. How is Jillian working out? Is she still the hot Irish babe that you thought that she was?"

"Please don't tell anyone that I said this, but I feel that she is a red-headed Rachel clone. Talk, talk, talk, nag, nag, nag. I think that it's cute with Rachel. I can shut her up with a kiss, and kissing almost always leads to sex. Which reminds me, I'm going to get laid this weekend!"

"Too Much Information!" sighed Sam as he threw his books onto his bed.

The two of them then settled down with their playbooks to start learning new routes and plays, but Finn hummed the melody to Working for the Weekend until the two left for dinner.

Friday afternoon came quickly enough and football practice was cut short. Finn, Sam and Quinn were on the road by 5:00. Quinn was driving with Sam seated beside her. Finn was in the back seat with his books and OSU t-shirts for the family. The back of the Tahoe was pilled high with luggage and dirty laundry.

The boys studied until 6:00 when Finn stretched and asked if they could start looking for a burger joint. His legs were cramping sitting cross ways in the back seat. Sam was leaning against the passenger door with his socked toes stuck under Quinn's right leg as she drove.

"Yeah," said Quinn, "I've had about enough of Sam wiggling his toes against my leg."

"Babe, I was just trying to keep you awake," Sam said innocently enough.

"Well after we eat, one of you can take over the driving," Quinn said as she pulled into a burger joint.

"I'll drive," said Finn. "You two were kind enough to do this for me."

"Great," said Sam, "Quinn and I can sit in the back seat together with all of this dirty laundry behind us. Maybe we can get a head start on our weekend."

"I'm not going to get pulled over when some cop sees you making out in the back seat," said Finn trying not to laugh.

"Don't worry," said Quinn. "He still has a rough draft of a paper to do before he gets anything from me."

The three arrived in Lima, and Finn, his gym bag, and his dirty laundry were dropped off in front of his house. Carole has been watching the clock and was out the door before the Tahoe drove off. Finn hugged his mom as Burt and Kurt came out to help gather up his things and carry them into the house.

Once inside Finn passed out the OSU t-shirts to everyone and then told them about his summer school classes and the red shirt deal with the football team.

Carole seemed confused about Finn being red shirted, but Burt promised that he'd explain everything to her.

Finn reached into his gym bag and pulled out an extra small OSU t-shirt. "Mom, if you don't mind, I'd like to borrow your car and run over to see Rachel. I bought this shirt for her, and I haven't seen her in a week."

"Sure, here's the keys, I'll leave the porch light on for you." Carole said giving her son one more hug. "Try and be home in time for breakfast, I want all of us to wear our matching OSU t-shirts to Waffle House."

Kurt only rolled his eyes and said something under his breath.

Finn backed Carole's Mustang out of the driveway and made his way to Rachel's house. When he pulled into her drive-way he noticed that Hiram's Lexus and Leroy's BMW weren't there, only Rachel's pink Prius. Before he could open the car door, Rachel was there opening it for him. She leaned into the car and whispered to Finn that this had been the longest week of her life before she gave him a long lingering kiss.

"It'been a long week for me too," Finn said against her lips as he pulled her into his lap.

"Where're your dads?" Finn said as he broke from the kiss.

"Dad's in Cincinnati until tomorrow, and Daddy's in Cleveland till Sunday," Rachel whispered back to him.

"What're we waiting for?" Finn said as he nuzzled her neck.

"Race you," squealed Rachel as she jumped off of Finn's lap and ran toward the house.

Finn was right behind her as he chased her through the front door and up the stairs toward her bedroom. When Finn stepped inside her room, she was no where to be seen. Turning around he found her standing behind her door as she pushed it close behind them.

"I brought something for you," Finn said holding up the OSU t-shirt.

"Oh thank you, I can sleep in it tonight. Let me see if it fits," she said seductively as she pulled her blouse over her head.

"You can try the t-shirt later," Finn said as he reached for her blouse. As he unhooked her bra, she unbuttoned his shirt.

-/-

"What time is it?" Rachel said as she rolled over in Finn's bare arms. "I think that I fell asleep."

"It's still Friday; I haven't heard your grandfather clock downstairs strike midnight yet." Finn said as he kissed her bare shoulder. "I didn't realize how much I've missed you. It's only been a week, I don't know how I'm going to say goodbye to you this August."

"Let's not talk about that now. We're here together, and I want to spend every moment that I can with you. Can you spend the night?" asked Rachel as she stoked her fingernails over his chest.

"Mom doesn't need her car until tomorrow, and she's already figured out that we're sleeping together. She did say that she wanted me home in time for breakfast. She wants us all to wear our OSU t-shirts to Waffle House."

"Well I'd better not sleep in mine tonight or it'll be all wrinkled for breakfast," said Rachel seductively.

"I was hoping that you'd sleep in what you've got on right now," Finn said looking down at her body.

"Nothing?" asked Rachel.

"Nothing," answered Finn.

-/-

Thank you for reading and reviewing. Chapter 3 will be up very soon. Whistler Nights