Chapter Two : I'm Looking for Something in Green
"Hey Charlie"
She'd hear it time and time again from people as she walked along. She still had no idea who half of these people were and yet everyone seemed to know her. It was just one of the many little quirky things about this situation that struck her as, well, odd.
"Hey," she'd say, nodding her head and smiling.
Sometimes, if she had the time, she would make a point of asking their name and where they worked and what they did. The reactions she received were mixed, but for the most part positive. The staff and crew especially seemed genuinely thrilled that she took an interest and made the effort.
Charlie was still very much aware that this was not her turf. But now, after an uneven first couple of weeks, she felt like she was perhaps finally getting her sea legs. Rachel, on the other hand, was in her element. She flitted around like a beautiful hummingbird going from one place to place as though she'd been born to it. This was where she belonged.
It pleased Charlie to note that Rachel was much calmer now than when she first arrived. Instead of wasting her energy trying to micro-manage everything and everyone around her, Rachel was able to just be herself and focus on her performance.
Rachel was also learning to trust and rely on Tina and was letting her handle some of the mundane day-to-day stuff that Rachel would normally obsess over. This was something that Charlie actively encouraged every chance she got.
A calm, secure Rachel was a good thing, both in front of the camera as well as off.
A happy, content Rachel was the best of things.
Charlie was also well aware the dynamic between the two of them had shifted. She was in Rachel's world now. And that was fine, because regardless of any working title she might have, Charlie was really just there for Rachel, plain and simple.
Where Rachel had looked to Charlie before for reassurance, it was now Charlie's turn to take her cues from Rachel about certain things. Unfortunately, because Rachel was so busy and she and Charlie were often at opposite ends of the set, it wasn't always possible to do so until after the fact.
This summons today was a perfect example of that. She really wished Rachel hadn't managed to make herself unavailable.
"There she is," Charlie heard a sugary voice call out as she approached. "Charlie Fabray, we've been looking high and low for you."
Charlie looked up to see the assistant director hurrying toward her.
A lanky man in his 30s, with a fondness for sweater vests, his name was William Schuester, but he insisted everyone call him, "Schu." Charlie couldn't quite manage that so she had settled on calling him,"Will." He was a little overly-enthusiastic and Pollyanna for her tastes and had an annoying habit of saying "we."
"Sorry," Charlie said contritely, adding her best and brightest showface. "There was a bit of a wardrobe malfunction."
Like earth tones, various shades of truth always blended easily and worked best.
"Isn't there always just?' he concurred with a sympathetic tone, wringing his hands earnestly
"Some days it really seems that way, doesn't it," she said.
He laughed. It was one of those laughs that was just too loud and too enthusiastic and left an awkward silence in its wake.
Charlie suddenly found herself folded into a full-body hug. The brittle smile on her face was one Rachel would have recognized in an instant.
Everyone here touched and hugged and played kissy-face with everyone; even perfect strangers were greeted with overt PDAs. To say that it made Charlie uncomfortable was an understatement. She came from a family where an awkward pat on the shoulder was regarded as sloppy sentimentality.
While Charlie herself was easily affectionate with those she felt somewhat comfortable with, the Fabrays, as a lot, didn't emote often or well.
When she encountered the constant barrage of uber-affection, Charlie had a tendency to seize up. Rachel said she looked like one of those cute little goats that would go all stiff-legged and faint whenever they got frightened. Although she was less than thrilled with the comparison, it was pretty accurate.
When Charlie remarked to Rachel that she'd be lucky to even have any eyebrows left by the time she was done with this whole experience Rachel had simply laughed, hugged her close and promised her it would get easier.
Charlie was still waiting. In the meanwhile, she tried not to react like a nelly narcoleptic goat whenever someone insisted on hugging her.
After an agonizingly long time, Will finally released her, but insisted on keeping a friend hand on her shoulder as they walked.
He proceeded to ask how she was settling in and if she'd encountered any ill affects from jet lag. Clearly he had no idea that she'd only gone from MST to PST so it wasn't much of an adjustment.
They discussed the weather and how it was affecting their shooting schedule. He was interested in hearing her opinion as to how she thought they should approach a particularly tricky night shooting sequence.
He asked her opinion about several pieces of new equipment. That went quickly enough as it was almost an exact duplicate of the conversation she'd had earlier with the Prop Master.
They were a good 30 minutes into their conversation and had discussed everything except why they had sent for her. If everything on the set functioned this same way it was no wonder they were already behind schedule.
Just when the small talk was really starting to wear on Charlie, he switched gears.
"We needed to talk to you about Finn." he remarked, finally getting to the heart of the issue.
Oh crap.
Eyes were rolling hard. Suddenly all the small talk didn't seem so bad.
By nature, Charlie wasn't a person who disliked people. She liked most everyone she met until they gave her a reason not to and they liked her in return. People were drawn to her easy-going personality, ready smile, kind heart and sly wit. There weren't many people she couldn't get along with if she really cared to make the effort.
The one exception to this, however, was Rachel's male co-star. His name was Finn Hudson.
He was ridiculously tall, well over six foot. Why anyone would even think of pairing him with the likes of Rachel was beyond her comprehension. The logistics alone were just seriously wrong.
She supposed most people would say they found him affable and boyishly-charming, and vaguely handsome. She found him to be rather slow-witted, a little to the craven, selfish and rather squidgy.
Suffice to say, Charlie pretty much loathed him and went out of her way to avoid him.
It appeared the feeling was mutual as well. Finn, however, never missed an opportunity to take a run at Charlie. Of course, he always ended up stumbling over his own clown-sized shoes and putting his potato-head through the nearest hollow object, but it never seemed to stop him.
The fact that he favored Rachel well beyond the boundaries of their working relationship certainly didn't help the situation.
Making matters even worse, Rachel actually seemed to enjoy his company which only added gasoline to the green flames. It was one of the few topics where she and Rachel constantly seemed to be at odds. So much so that Charlie actively tried to avoid talking to Rachel about him if at all possible.
That his name was now being thrown directly into her path was, to say the least, disappointing.
"He's having a little trouble with some things." Will said diplomatically.
Really? Like walking upright and breathing at the same time? Keeping his knuckles off the ground?
"We'd really appreciate it if you could spend some extra time with him. Coach him. We know you worked with Rachel at one point and it did wonders for her confidence."
This was not happening.
"That was a very different situation," Charlie deflected. "The circumstances were quite different."
"Oh yes, Charlie," he agreed. "But still, we would be very grateful for anything you might be able to do in this situation."
"What exactly did you have in mind?" she asked cautiously, still trying desperately to maintain an exit strategy.
She listened politely and quietly while he laid out their objectives. At one point she may have actually laughed, but then again, she was only human after all. When he finished, he looked at her for her reaction.
"Honestly, I think you may be somewhat..." Charlie said, pausing.
What was the word she was searching for? Delusional? Pollyanna? Unrealistic?
"Overly optimistic as to the outcome." Charlie pointed out to Will.
"Perhaps, but we have faith in you, Charlie. You are amazing when it comes to getting results," Will said, mistakenly thinking that ego-stroking was the key to her good side. He'd clearly worked with too many insecure actors. Her motivations all came from within.
"I'm not sure how I'd be able to fit it in with the rest of my regular duties," she remarked, now seriously looking to smother this bad idea with anything she could grab onto and throw over it.
"Oh, please don't worry about that, "Will countered. "We can make adjustments there without any problem."
This just wasn't going well.
"To be honest, I'm not sure how comfortable Rachel might be about this idea," she added cautiously. This was rocky terrain and she didn't want to venture too far with it. Especially not until she could talk to Rachel first.
"We know you're very... " he seemed to be choosing his words carefully, deliberately. "Protective of Rachel."
Although it was technically true, she wasn't sure she cared for his tone.
"In fact, your..."
Again with the pause.
"...influence over her has been tremendously positive. We would like to encourage that it continue on a more full-time basis."
Fuck. They wanted her to be a babysitter.
"Rachel has Tina. She likes her and Tina is good at what she does. I'm not interested in replacing her," Charlie told him pointedly. She had to make him understand in no uncertain terms that she was not interested in becoming Rachel's hired keeper.
She and Rachel were not overtly public with their relationship, though, no doubt, many people probably suspected anyway. Whether it was common knowledge or not, her relationship with Rachel was personal and Charlie wasn't going to make herself accountable to anyone for it. Especially not an employer.
"We weren't thinking of replacing Tina. We were thinking more along the lines of you supplementing her." he explained vaguely.
Charlie wrinkled her nose in disgust. Now he was making it sound like some kind of a three-way. Her diplomacy was waning. She was very close to going seriously full-bore blunt in this stilted conversation and that never ended well.
"Let me be clear on this: I'm not interested in working for Rachel," she said, taking one last attempt at being directly diplomatic.
"Charlie, Charlie," he said, trying to play the peacemaker. "Don't misunderstand us, we don't want you to do anything more than what you've been doing. Rachel is happy, she's getting along with everyone, she's doing amazing work. In short, things are great. Whatever you can do to maintain the status quo, that's all we're asking you to do, that's all."
Maintain the status quo? Was that a threat or a blessing? Or maybe it was a get out of jail free card.
"As far as the situation with Finn goes, all we're asking is that you try and see what you can do. I've heard from several highly-placed sources that you can be something of a miracle worker," he said.
She would have to be, Charlie thought to herself, if she was going to be able to get a handle on this situation and pull it off without some kind of literal smack-down.
·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·
Charlie stepped into the trailer, fully expecting to be hit with random flying objects. Tina looked up and saw her and immediately shook her head, laughing.
"I don't know what you did, but boy, it sure sucks to be you right now."
"It's not the first time." Charlie said with a grin. "Where is she?"
"In her bedroom," Tina told her. She held out a metal mixing bowl she was using. "Here, you might want to wear this."
Charlie grinned at her and waved off the offer of body armor. She walked to the door of Rachel's bedroom and started to just walk through, but then decided against it. She knocked lightly.
"Rachel?" she called. When she didn't get an answer she sighed and turned the knob and cautiously stepped inside. Rachel was sitting at her vanity, wrapped in her favorite fluffy robe, brushing out her hair.
Charlie shut the door behind her, then leaned back against it. She had best keep an exit at the ready until she knew which way Rachel was blowing, hot or cold.
Rachel looked up at her reflection and glared.
"There's my Huckleberry," Charlie said lightly, quirking one eyebrow.
Rachel kept her eyes on her, shook her head and gave a low throaty chuckle. It was like a growling dog.
"Tina tried to send me in here wearing a helmet." Charlie said lightly.
"Smart girl, that Tina." Rachel remarked flatly.
"So, are you really mad or are you just trying to dazzle everyone with your amazing talent?" Charlie asked with a sigh.
"I haven't decided yet," Rachel deflected. In Berry-speak that meant she liked the upper hand and wanted to hold on to it as long as she could.
"Well, when you decide, please let me know," Charlie requested. "In the meanwhile, I'm going to risk it and rest here for a minute. If that's a problem, tell me now and I'll go sleep on the couch."
Rachel frowned.
"Don't you have... stuff today?" Rachel asked hesitantly. She really had no idea what Charlie was doing as a technical adviser. Charlie had told her numerous times, but honestly, Rachel had so much going on she could not retain it all. She could only focus on her work for the time being. It was just enough to know that Charlie was somewhere close by.
"Not really." she said apathetically. "Nothing I want to deal with anyway." It was the truth, more or less.
Since Rachel hadn't ordered her out, Charlie walked over and sat down on the bed. She pulled off her shoes and then flopped down onto her back. She folded her arm across her eyes. After a few minutes she felt the mattress dip and could tell Rachel was now crawling toward her.
"Can I cuddle with you?" she asked softly.
"You don't ever have to ask permission to do that, Rachel," Charlie said and patted a hand on her chest.
Rachel immediately piled down right up next to her. There was brief period of wiggling around until Rachel found the most comfortable spot that allowed for optimum snuggling. Charlie waited patiently and then, once Rachel was settled, she adjusted accordingly.
"Does this mean that you aren't mad?" Charlie asked, yawning deeply.
"No, it's just I like this better." she explained. It really made no sense, but Charlie was too tired to bother pointing that out. Maybe she was suffering from jet lag.
"Do I need to be worried about you?" Rachel asked seriously.
"Not even a little bit," Charlie assured her. "If I fall asleep, do I need to be worried about you?"
Rachel smiled.
"Not even a little bit," she answered. "Did you find them?" she asked cautiously.
"Yup, sure did." Charlie answered, trying to keep her tone even. It was to no avail, Rachel could still feel her muscles tense up and saw her jaw tighten.
"Was it okay?" she pressed gently.
Charlie sighed.
"Yeah, I guess," Charlie said with a shrug.
Rachel brushed her fingers across her cheek.
"It's nothing bad, Rachel." she continued. "Just something I would rather not do. I couldn't seem to squirm out of it either. But I'm sure it will be fine."
She could feel Rachel's eyes on her. She never moved her arm away from over her eyes even though she knew it was what Rachel wanted.
"Everything's okay, Rachel." she said, trying to reassure her. "I'll talk to you about it when I'm not so tired."
Rachel put her hand on the center of Charlie's chest. Charlie covered it with her own and squeezed her fingers.
"They're very pleased with you. They say you seem happier now, " she said with a chuckle.
"Are you happy," Rachel asked quietly.
A little light conversation before napping. How typically Rachel.
"Are you near me?" Charlie asked and Rachel smiled.
"Yes," she said softly.
"Then I'm a very happy camper." Charlie told her truthfully and Rachel curled tighter against her, obviously pleased with the answer.
"They said I looked like a Smurf," she pouted, her hand now rubbing across Charlie's stomach.
"Noooo, that's terrible. How can people be so mean like that?"
Bad Charlie
" Well point out which "they" said it and I'll give them a sound thrashing," Charlie offered politely.
"I don't really want you to do that." Rachel said, laughing.
Rachel unbuttoned the bottom three buttons on Charlie's shirt just so she could get to bare skin. She went back to ticking Charlie's stomach.
"Then I won't," Charlie said. "But the offer still stands."
"Well, maybe just that stupid boy from props." Rachel added.
"Did he say you looked like a Smurf?" Charlie asked, hoping Sam really hadn't been that stupid. It would just would make her life that much more complicated.
"No, but he made me look like a Smurf." Rachel explained.
"Oh, I see now," Charlie remarked and immediately felt guilty. Confession was a good thing. "Baby, you do know I asked him to do that, right?"
"I pretty much figured that out," she said evenly.
"I'm sorry, " she added with another yawn.
"No, you're not, "Rachel said, now yawning herself.
"Rachel?"
"Yes, Charlie," she replied, her eyes closing,
"I was wondering about something." Charlie mused aloud.
"What were you wondering about, Charlie?"
"Are you naked under that robe?" Charlie knew Rachel was grinning.
"Why yes, Charlie, I am. Would you like to see?" she asked, teasing.
"Very much. Remind me later, okay?" Charlie asked.
"Okay, I will," Rachel said. She kissed her softly on the cheek. "Go to sleep, Charlie."
Charlie moved her arm away from her eyes and wrapped it around Rachel. Then she stopped worrying for five minutes.
It was long enough.
·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·
It was still light outside when Charlie awoke. Rachel was curled next to her, sleeping soundly. Charlie smiled. Rachel had her fingers wrapped loosely around Charlie's wrist and she tried to turn it so that she could see the time on her watch without waking her. It was almost six in the evening.
Charlie had no idea what Rachel's shooting schedule was like. Rachel may have told her, but she honestly couldn't keep up with it, It changed every five minutes as it was anyway. Tina and Rachel kept that part running smoothly. If Charlie wanted to find Rachel and couldn't, she knew that Tina would know where she was. That they had been able to sleep so long undisturbed probably meant that Rachel's evening hours were her own.
Rachel rolled up against her and muttered sleepily, "I'm reminding you." Charlie chuckled.
She pulled away a little bit and let her fingers hook into the belt of Rachel's robe and tugged it loose. She pulled the robe open slightly and saw nothing but sleek tawny bare skin and her breath caught in her chest. She let her fingertips tickle over Rachel's stomach and up the front of her thigh. Rachel giggled and rolled away slightly and the robe fell open even more.
Rachel was all soft and warm and sleepy. Charlie liked her like that and didn't want to do anything that would change that mood.
Still, how could anyone resist?
She leaned forward and softly planted a kiss at the base of Rachel's throat. She rested there, bathing in her scent, her lips lingering. She moved down between her breasts, all soft kisses, quiet licks. She sucked gently on a soft breast, letting her tongue run underneath and along the soft curve of it. She took it in her mouth and coaxed the shy nipple with kitten licks and felt it swell beneath her tongue. She grazed it lightly with her teeth. Her hand brushed softly against the other breast, caressing. She wrapped her hand around it, now kissing softly, sucking lightly, biting gently. She closed her mouth over the soft nipple and bathed it with gentle, broad strokes of her tongue.
Rachel sighed deeply. She had been watching Charlie with sleepy eyes and a contented smile, sorting her fingers through Charlie's tousled hair.
This wasn't about teasing or sex at all. This was about Charlie just wanting to be close to her. This was so much the real Charlie.
"Charlie," Rachel whispered, reaching down to touch her face.
Charlie pulled away from Rachel's breast and looked up at her. Rachel met her eyes and smiled.
"Come kiss me," she asked.
Charlie smiled back and brought her lips up against Rachel's, sliding softly, sucking lightly. Rachel sighed into her mouth. Rachel knew Charlie would kiss her for as long as Rachel wanted her to whether that was five minutes or five hours. Tonight, it as somewhere in between.
When Rachel finally had her fill, Charlie laid her head back down on Rachel's bare chest. Rachel's trailed her fingers up and down Charlie's back underneath her shirt. Very few people ever got to see this side of Charlie: tender, playful, open-hearted. She moved her hand to the back of Charlie's neck and kneaded it softly.
"Mmmm, " Charlie melted under her soft, strong touch. "Never, ever stop that. I will beg you if necessary."
Rachel smiled. That was good to know.
"What's going on, Charlie," she asked quietly.
"Just work stuff," she told her truthfully.
"Can I help?" she offered.
"You already are," Charlie told her with a satisfied sigh.
Rachel smiled and tugged on Charlie's hair gently, then went back to massaging the back of her neck, working her hand down to her shoulder.
"Are you working tonight?" Charlie asked her.
"Not until 8 in the morning." Rachel said, shifting slightly to get more comfortable. Charlie started to raise her head up and Rachel forced her back down.
"Stay," she said. "Don't."
Charlie relented and relaxed again. Rachel's fingers resumed their kneading.
"There's a cast/crew mixer thing though. I have to go."
Charlie groaned and Rachel laughed.
"Yes my lovely little wanna-be wallflower, you do have to at least make an appearance." she told her sternly.
Charlie grunted unhappily.
"When?" she grumbled.
"I think it is one of those show up whenever things," Rachel answered.
"Can it be one of those show up, get really drunk and leave right away things, too?" Charlie suggested.
"Uh, no," Rachel scolded. "Not with an early call time."
"Boo," Charlie said dryly.
·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·
Charlie was sitting at the kitchen table, tipping herself back in the chair and rocking back and forth. Rachel walked out of the bedroom wearing a short skirt and a button down short sleeve top.
"Stop that before you hurt yourself," she scolded.
Charlie scoffed, but put the chair down on all four legs. She looked up at Rachel and frowned.
"That's mean." she said seriously.
"What are you talking about?" Rachel asked, confused. "Don't you like it?"
"It's not that." Charlie said. "You look amazing."
"And that's a problem for you?" Rachel asked, smiling at the compliment.
"Yes, because you'll be wearing that and I have to act like it doesn't make me a sex-crazed weasel."
Rachel rolled her eyes.
"You'll live," Rachel said unsympathetically. "You can be a sex-crazed weasel after."
"And we can have crazy hot money sex?" Charlie asked. Rachel looked at her and shook her head.
"I worry about you sometimes," she said, laughing.
"Whatever you say there, little blue Kettle." Charlie muttered.
Rachel glared at her and went back into the bedroom fussing with her make-up.
Charlie promptly tipped her chair back again and stared up at the ceiling light.
"Stay away from Finn tonight," Charlie said suddenly, surprising both of them.
"What?" Rachel asked with a laugh. "Are you being serious?"
"Yeah," Charlie said, with a deep sigh. "I think I am.
Rachel walked out of the bedroom and looked at Charlie.
"Okaaay," Rachel said slowly.
This was new. She knew Charlie didn't like Finn very much or, well, at all really, but this was a new twist to that situation. She wasn't sure she cared for being told to stay away from him.
"You do realize that I will probably have to at least speak with him don't you?"
Charlie growled.
Rachel came up behind Charlie and pushed the chair back down on the floor. Then she hugged Charlie from behind, draping herself over her shoulder, her lips sliding wetly down her neck while she ran one hand down the front of her chest.
"What is wrong with you tonight?" Rachel asked, her breath flashing across her skin.
Charlie shook her head.
"Does that mean nothing or that you don't want to talk about it yet." Rachel asked knowingly.
"Yes," Charlie said with a sigh.
"Charlie..." Rachel said, shaking her head. "I think you need something else to worry about."
"God, what," Charlie asked with a pained exhale.
Rachel fastened her lips to the side of Charlie's neck and sucked, hard.
Charlie hunched her shoulders and tried to shrug her off, but Rachel wasn't having it and held her tighter, using her teeth now.
"Rachel," Charlie hissed, partially laughing and partially in pain. "You beautiful little leech, get off me."
Laughing, Rachel let go of Charlie and walked around to inspect her handiwork. She put her legs on either side of Charlie's and sat down on her lap, straddling her.
Charlie gave her a pointed look.
"Pretty girl, don't start things you can't finish,"she warned lightly.
"I'll try to control myself," Rachel said, tipping Charlie's head to one side.
"It's not you I'm worried about," Charlie teased.
"I thought you wanted crazy hot monkey sex." Rachel remarked dryly.
There was already a deep purple suck mark blooming on the side of Charlie's neck.
"Oh yeah" she said nodding, quite pleased with herself. Rachel leaned her head down and ran her tongue across it.
Charlie drew in a harsh, shuddering breath and gripped Rachel's arms.
"Rachel," she said, shaking her head. "I already don't want to go to this, don't give me anymore reasons not to. Stop teasing."
Rachel kissed her lightly on the lips and stood up.
"You're going to meet me there in a little bit, right?" Rachel asked suspiciously.
"Yes, Rachel," Charlie whined.
"Promise?" she asked.
"Yes, Rachel." she said unenthusiastically.
"Charlie..." Rachel warned.
"I promise. I promise." Charlie said. "Go, have fun."
Rachel turned and started out the door. At the last minute just before she started down the steps, she flipped up the back of her skirt and flashed Charlie, then laughed and shut the door behind her.
Charlie face-palmed, groaning loudly. She tipped the chair back again and it wobbled for a moment and then slid over with a crash.
"Ow." Charlie whined pitifully.
·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·
Rachel saw Charlie long before Charlie ever saw her. She watched her go from group to group, laughing and chatting with people. She seemed to be genuinely enjoying herself. She also noted that Charlie's eyes constantly roamed over the crowd, obviously looking for her. That made her smile.
"Hey Charlie," Tina said and offered her a beer.
"Oh, thank you," Charlie said and took it like a lifesaver.
"Having a good time?" she asked.
She sipped deeply and sighed.
"Sure," she said unconvincingly. "Are you?" she asked with a smile.
"It's okay," she said. "Food's plentiful, beer's free, company is good. Not much not to like."
She laughed. She had a much better attitude about it all than Charlie did.
Tina watched Charlie's eyes roam over the crowd.
"She's by the bar," she said with a smile. Charlie looked at her then followed her gaze to Rachel. Rachel's eyes found hers and she smiled. Charlie nodded.
"She's been watching you since you got here," Tina told her.
Charlie chuckled and sipped from her beer.
"I guess we're not fooling anyone, are we, Tina?" she asked, looking directly at her.
"I'm trusting you, Tina," was what she was really saying, hoping her instincts were correct.
"People see what they're looking to see, Charlie." she said, wisely. "I wouldn't worry about it. You worry about too much as it is."
She scoffed.
"My god, is it that obvious?" she asked, laughing.
"Not really," Tina said with a laugh. "She worries about you. I just notice it, that's all."
Charlie nodded.
"Still waters, Charlie," Tina said and she reached out and turned up the collar of Charlie's Polo shirt, covering the bite mark on her neck. Charlie blushed furiously.
Then Tina slipped an unopened beer into Charlie's jacket pocket before she walked over to another group of co-workers.
Charlie worked her way through the crowd, stopping here and there, but always keeping her eye on the little brunette who stayed fixed in a small group having a conversation at the far side of the bar. Finally, she made her way over to Rachel, who excused herself and and walked up to Charlie.
"Hey," she said softly.
"Hey yourself, " Charlie answered back.
Rachel bit her lip. She put her hand lightly on Charlie's arm and squeezed, then stepped back. Charlie smiled. Rachel noted the beer in Charlie's hand and the bruised and battered knuckles.
"How did you hurt your hand?" Rachel asked. "Been wrestling a water buffalo?"
"Fell out of a chair," Charlie said truthfully.
"Told you so,"Rachel said quietly and Charlie laughed.
·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·
The evening was winding down and ended with fireworks. Literally. The props department had new toys and beer and was happy to show off.
Charlie stood behind Rachel, quietly watching the pyrotechnics when she felt Rachel take a step backwards, closing the gap between them. Charlie rolled her eyes and smirked. What was the little brunette up to now? She was certain she was up to no good, whatever it was. It wasn't long before she felt Rachel put her arms back behind her and her fingertips tickle across Charlie's stomach.
Charlie leaned forward and whispered directly in her ear. "There are easier ways of doing this." Rachel just smiled, eyes flashing up at the twinkling lights.
Charlie want to kiss her but she couldn't so instead she just rolled her eyes and plied her best poker face during all of Rachel's clandestine groping.
At one point she reached down with both hands and squeezed Rachel's ass. Rachel's surprised squeak was lost amidst the excited "oooh" and "ahhhs' from the rest of the spectators. Charlie smiled broadly.
After a good ten minutes of pinching, and rubbing and probing Charlie reached down, laced her fingers through Rachel's and they both smiled contentedly.
Charlie scanned across the crowd and was surprised when her eyes met Finn's. He was watching with a smug, knowing smirk on his face. She sneered at him and squeezed Rachel's fingers.
After a fresh volley of flashing lights Finn's leering grin caught her gaze again.
Impulsively, Charlie put her hands on Rachel's hips and she felt rather than heard Rachel gasp.
She tugged her back until she was almost flush against her, but there was still enough distance you could see light between them if you were looking for it. All eyes were trained upward.
Charlie flipped Rachel's skirt up in the back and eased her hand down inside her panties. Charlie slid her foot alongside Rachel's and nudged so that she would move her feet apart.. Rachel stumbled back slightly when Charlie trailed her fingers down her ass and slipped into the warm sweetness between her thighs.
It was Quinn's eyes that found Finn's again and she held his gaze as she pushed two fingers up inside Rachel. Rachel moaned softly, swallowed hard and let her eyes fall closed.
Quinn wasn't looking for a long drawn-out affair. She worked in hard, quick thrusts. She used her index finger and tapped that patch of nerves with each thrust, getting a muffled squeak and a spasm for her efforts.
After just a few minutes, Rachel was literally bouncing on the balls of her feet and chewing on her lip. A third finger was added and it wasn't long before Rachel raised up on her tiptoes, tipped her head back ever so slightly against Charlie's chest and sighed deeply. Then she reached back, grabbed Quinn's thigh so hard as to bruise and Quinn felt moisture spill into her palm.
Quinn stared daggers back at Finn and smirked. She pulled her fingers free and traced a slow, wet trail back up the curve of Rachel's ass. She pulled her hand out and allowed Rachel's skirt to drop back down.
When she looked again, Finn was still staring. She quirked her eyebrows, slid her glistening index finger into her mouth and sucked.
Finn's eyes widened, he muttered something that looked like, "Ma..ma" and then he looked quickly away.
When Charlie turned back, still smirking, she found Rachel staring at her, eyes blazing and her mouth a thin, angry line. The smirk fell quickly away.
Oy vey.
Charlie gave her a wan smile. Unamused, Rachel grabbed her by the arm and more or less yanked her out of the crowd.
"What the fuck was that?" she barked when they reached a secluded spot.
"Going out with a bang?" Charlie quipped. Then she shrugged and smiled, but she already knew that wasn't going to placate Rachel in the least and she was right. It just made her madder.
Charlie started to sip from the beer bottle she had tucked in her pocket.
"Where the hell did you get that? Like that helped matters any tonight," Rachel sputtered as she yanked it out of her hand and hurled it away.
"Rachel..." Charlie protested.
"Don't even," Rachel snapped, eyes flashing hotly. "I so know what you were doing."
Charlie opened her mouth and Rachel held up her hand.
"Fabray, you better think hard and tred lightly and keep your fucking sarcastic comments to yourself," Rachel spat at her.
Charlie was a little stunned.
"That little tryst had nothing to do with me at all. You were marking your territory,"
Charlie's face flushed with guilt. "I didn't think of it like... I didn't... think."
"Obviously," Rachel hissed.
"I'm sorry, really" Charlie said sheepishly.
"You should be," Rachel ranted. "Why don't you just put a brand on my ass."
Charlie's eyebrows shot up and she may have looked contemplative because Rachel balled up a fist and punched her soundly in the shoulder.
"I was kidding," Charlie muttered, rubbing her shoulder.
"I know, that's why it wasn't your nose." Rachel said, not quite so angry.
Charlie tried not to smile, but failed.
"Stop smiling," Rachel hissed.
"Okay, sorry." Charlie held up her hands in surrender.
"Why did you do that Charlie?" Rachel asked again, sounding more hurt now than angry.
"Because he's an ass, Rachel." she said defensively. Charlie sighed deeply "He just makes me crazy, I don't... I'm just not myself when he's involved."
"Well then who are you?" Rachel asked curtly. They both already knew.
"I'm just, it's like I'm... I'm an idiot." she answered, deflated. "A giant fucking idiot."
"Yes," Rachel agreed. "You are." Her tone was lighter again and the corners of her mouth quirked. Charlie felt Rachel's fingers close warmly around her hand.
" What am I going to do with you?" she asked.
"Hopefully just love me," Charlie answered.
" We'll see about that. Come on, idiot." Rachel said, tugging her forward. "Let's go watch some more fireworks."
Charlie whined and hesitated, but eventually let Rachel drag her along by the hand.
Rachel pulled Charlie up alongside of her and wrapped her hands around her arm. "I cannot believe you actually sucked on your finger." she said with a chuckle. "I mean, really. Who does that?"
Charlie rolled her eyes.
"It was somewhat hot though, " Rachel said, casting her eyes up at Charlie. Charlie, who knew enough to leave well enough alone, made no comment.
"The skirt flipping thing though," Rachel continued, "Way, way hot."
Charlie just smiled and nodded. They walked a little further.
"In fact," Rachel said after a few more steps. "I've reconsidered. Let's go make our own fireworks."
Again, Charlie just smiled and nodded and let Rachel lead the way.
Crazy hot monkey sex. Yay.
Choke on that Finn Hudson.
~oOo~
