Just off the Key of Reason

Chapter 4: Something Make My Chest Stir

A few days later, Rachel came home from rehearsals fully expecting Quinn to be in the apartment. Quinn didn't really go anywhere, unless it was to walk Barnaby or to pick up take out, and Rachel sort of liked having somebody to come home to. She really liked the fact that she was actually sleeping well at night, because Quinn had been joining her, quietly and bashfully, with Pooh Bear at her side. Rachel figured it was a solution that benefited them both, so it was the logical, practical thing to do.

When she walked through the door, her eyes landed on Quinn sitting at the breakfast bar, stuffing what looked like freshly made peanut butter cookies in her mouth. Quinn glanced in Rachel's direction; now she frequently maintained eye contact, which Rachel enjoyed, because really, who wouldn't?

She ruffled the blonde's choppy hair as she walked by and Quinn ducked her head as she always did, trying to swallow her mouthful of cookie. She looked excited, and Rachel waited expectantly with a smile on her face.

"Rachel."

Rachel laughed. "Yes, Quinn?"

Quinn seemed like she couldn't contain her smile. "I made you vegan celebratory peanut butter cookies."

Rachel raised her eyebrows in surprise. The greatest lengths she had seen Quinn go to for food preparation involved pouring milk on Froot Loops. Rachel looked down at the plate. There were only four cookies left.

"So, you ate, what, like twelve, before I got home?"

Quinn flushed but kept smiling. "Well, you were taking forever." She defended, shoving the plate in front of Rachel. "And I'm just such an amazing baker, I couldn't resist."

Did Quinn just make a joke? Did she just brag? Oh, good, Rachel was rubbing off on her.

Rachel scrunched up her nose and took a bite of one of the cookies. Holy mother of God, it tasted like an angel. Quinn grinned at Rachel's expression. Rachel just tried to make her face look less orgasmic.

"Did you say these were celebratory cookies?" she asked. Quinn nodded, her smile now open-mouthed and in full force. Rachel studied her for a moment with a grin of her own. She knew Quinn was waiting for her to ask, but she waited. She turned around, acting like she was going back to her room, and Quinn made an unintelligible noise of protest.

Rachel swung back around, an innocent expression on her face. Quinn was biting her lip, and Rachel couldn't take it anymore.

"What are we celebrating, Quinn Fabray?" Rachel set the plate of cookies down. She tended to go a little overboard with celebrations and didn't want them to end up as Barnaby's dinner on the floor.

"I got a job."

Rachel's face brightened even more. "You got a job?"

Quinn laughed and nodded. "At that dog rescue, a few blocks away. I get to feed them and walk them and-"

Quinn was cut off as Rachel threw her arms around her. She stiffened a little at first, but Rachel would not let anybody reject a Rachel Barbra Berry hug. Quinn smelled like gummy bears.

"That's so great." She said into Quinn's neck, then frowned and pulled away.

"Quinn!"

Quinn's smile faded a little bit, but she didn't get the chance to answer.

"You go out and get a job and I'm all proud and happy for you, and you leave me four cookies to celebrate with! This is not acceptable." Rachel put her hands on her hips. She was not fucking kidding around here. Quinn watched her, a little amused, a little scared.

"Um, we could make more…" She suggested quietly. Rachel stared at her for a second, before jumping up and down and clapping her hands.

"Yes! That'll be even more fun! You can show me how you make them! God," Rachel stopped jumping and took a breath. She felt eyes felt like they were tearing up; her body was just too dramatic for its own good. "I'm so proud of you."

Sure, she'd known Quinn, for, like a week, but it was just impossible not to love this sweet girl. She knew Quinn had problems with people, and the fact that she went out and got a job, a job where she'd work with puppies all fucking day, God…Rachel just could not contain herself.

"What, no, Rachel don't-don't cry." Quinn looked distraught now. Rachel waved her hands around vaguely; she wanted to say, 'no, I'm fine, just so happy,' so she hoped her improvised sign language got the message across.

Quinn stood and lifted her arms like she was going to hug Rachel again, but seemed to decide against it, and looked down at the ground instead. Rachel laughed through her tears and wrapped her arms around Quinn.

Quinn held her for a minute, until Rachel pulled back with a massive grin on her shiny face.

"God, pull yourself together woman." Quinn said with a small smile. Rachel just laughed and moved into the kitchen with her plate of cookies.

Three hours later, they were laid out on the couch, plates of chocolate chip and peanut butter cookies balanced on their bodies and on the coffee table. Rachel couldn't blame Quinn for eating all her celebratory cookies earlier, seeing as she was on her fourteenth chocolate chip cookie at the moment. The kitchen was in disarray behind them; Barnaby had been turned white after a flour fight, but Quinn's hands were sitting still on her lap and there was a small, content smile on her face. Right now, that's all that mattered to Rachel.

~oooooooooo~

"Wake me up before you go-go

'cause I'm not plannin' on goin' solo

Wake me up before you go-go

Take me dancing tonight

I wanna hit that high"

Rachel jitterbugged around the kitchen, singing into her spatula and trying to drag out that "high" as long as possible. She spied Quinn walking, or stumbling in a blind, sleepy haze, out of Rachel's bedroom, and waved her over with the utensil in her hand.

Quinn blinked at her for a minute before stalking over to the breakfast bar and laying her head down on her arms. Rachel stopped singing and reached over to ruffle the blonde hair.

"You okay?"

Quinn lifted her head up and nodded, flushing a little. "Did you send Barnaby to wake me up? Or does he just, like, do that…?"

Rachel turned her back to Quinn, unable to hide her guilty smile. She really hadn't said to Barnaby, 'go wake Quinn up.' Her dog wasn't that smart, so she had just pointed to the bedroom door and jumped up and down a little excitedly, saying his name over and over. Apparently, he got the message, as Quinn was now awake.

"Breakfast, Quinn?"

Quinn was probably too sleepy to notice that Rachel had completely ignored her question.

"Um, I'll just have leftover pizza."

Rachel turned around to glare at her. Quinn faltered.

"And…Lucky Charms?"

"Quinn Fabray! You can't start out your day with that disgusting food! Here, I'll add to my vegan scramble. Do you like onions?"

Quinn scrunched up her nose, and Rachel rolled her eyes.

"Use your words, Quinn." Rachel said, only half-joking.

Hazel eyes met Rachel's, even as Quinn's hands set to work playing with the keys on the counter. "No, I don't like onions. Or peppers…And I'm allergic to walnuts. Um, not that you'd put those in a scramble, but, for future…reference."

Rachel smiled at Quinn, pleased with that response. She turned back to the counter and listened as the jangling of the keys stopped. She looked over her shoulder and winked at Quinn, whose ears turned crimson, and then resumed her singing of Wham's Wake Me up before You Go-Go.

Unfortunately, Rachel got halfway through the second line before her voice cracked on the "brain." She froze and shut her mouth at once. Immediately, she turned around and looked at Quinn, who watched her intently. She obviously did not know the severity of the situation. Seriously, her voice cracked.

Rachel spoke in a whisper, so as to not damage it any further than the utterly disastrous state it was in now. "It'll be okay. It's just a little tickle. I don't need to see a doctor. Opening night's still two weeks away and I'm not even getting sick. I'll just take it easy at rehearsals today and tomorrow, and everything will be fine."

Quinn looked a little nervous now, watching Rachel carefully. She nodded quietly along. Rachel spun back around when she heard the scramble sizzling, took it off the burner, and split it onto two plates.

She put one in front of Quinn. "Thank you." Quinn said softly.

Rachel didn't even try to whisper this time. She mouthed the words "you're welcome," then dug into her own breakfast as Quinn watched. Rachel's dads and friends and roommates had always told her she went a little psychotic when she got sick, so Rachel figured the best thing to do right now was ignore any possible problems. Positive thinking was the way to go!

When it came time to leave for rehearsals, Rachel gathered her stuff together, and stood next to Quinn, glancing around the apartment for anything she might have forgotten. She turned to say, or mouth, goodbye to Quinn, when the blonde surprised her with a hug. Rachel was caught off balance, and Quinn was too, by the impulsive gesture, and Rachel had only just wrapped her arms around the woman when Quinn pulled away. She was bright red and her eyes were darting around the room. She looked like she couldn't believe she did that.

"Have a good rehearsal." Quinn murmured.

Rachel smiled warmly at her. "Have a good day at work." She whispered. "I'll text you later."

Quinn nodded and sat back down, playing with her keys again. Rachel watched her; then grabbed her lemon and honey tea, and swept out the door. Positive thinking, Rachel. You will not get sick.

~oooooooooo~

Of course, the next day Rachel got sent home from rehearsals early by her director. It's not like she didn't expect it, when it felt like her lungs were drowning and she had poured acid down her throat. For the first time since Quinn started joining her, she couldn't get to sleep last night. This is why she left an hour early for work, before Quinn was even awake, hoping the fresh air might help. Unfortunately, fucking Siri lied to her again and she only ended up freezing her ass off.

So, she now sat helplessly on the kitchen floor. She had abandoned the couch after repeatedly getting up for tissues and water. Now, Rachel was just too tired to move. The floor felt nice; cool on her legs. She heard the front door open and close. Quinn would probably be surprised to find her home so early, so she let out a little whine to let the woman know she was present.

Quinn appeared in the kitchen doorway a moment later. She looked amused, and then concerned when she realized the state Rachel was in. Rachel just looked up at her through bleary eyes, pouting miserably.

"They sent me home." She muttered thickly, tilting her head back so it leaned against the dishwasher. Barnaby sat next to her; he actually looked a little sympathetic. Rachel would've been pleased that he was being so good, if she wasn't convinced she was dying.

Quinn looked like she had no idea what to do, but her hazel eyes looked very worried. She tapped her fingers on her pants a few times before stepping forward hesitantly and kneeling down in front of Rachel.

"Why are you sitting on the floor? In the kitchen?"

"I don't know!" Rachel whined out pitifully. Quinn winced.

"Um…" Quinn thought for a moment, and then shifted closer. "Let's get you-I mean, can I-can I put you on the couch?"

Rachel nodded and Quinn helped her up carefully. Apparently she dislodged the fluid she had been keeping still, like a swamp in her lungs, and Rachel dissolved into a coughing fit. Quinn just rubbed her back cautiously until it stopped, and supported Rachel enough to get to the couch. Rachel watched as Quinn straightened and bit her lip; her eyes darted around the apartment. She was tapping her pants again.

"You're okay Quinn." Rachel husked out. She watched the fingers stop moving, but was too tired and uncomfortable to be confused when Quinn spun on her heel and walked away. Rachel sighed, or tried to. She ended up making a garbling noise and then wiping her arm across her red nose.

Suddenly a blanket billowed up around her. She registered that it was fleecy and warm, and it had green giraffes on it, and she smiled briefly. A minute later Quinn set a mug of something steaming on the coffee table, along with a box of tissues and a coloring book with crayons. Rachel tried to raise her eyebrow, and Quinn noticed and flushed.

"I like to color when I'm sick." She said simply, before scurrying away again. Rachel chuckled, and then realized it was the most painful thing she had ever experienced, and stopped abruptly. Quinn returned again and sat on the coffee table in front of Rachel.

She held up a movie that wasn't Rachel's, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and gave her a small smile.

"Um, you've probably seen it. But it's about an awesome flying car and it's this really cool adventure…And there's a big fluffy dog in it…And Dick van Dyke."

Rachel gave the best smile she could muster. Of course she had seen it, she was Rachel Berry and it was a musical. It was for the same reason she nodded enthusiastically when Quinn gestured to the DVD player.

Then Quinn held up her bear, bashfully and biting her bottom lip, her ears turning pink. Rachel held out her arms weakly, pouting up at the other woman.

"Pooh Bear." She whined roughly. Quinn smiled and let Rachel have her bear. Rachel hugged him close to her chest and snuggled under the blankets. She closed her eyes when Quinn hesitantly reached out a hand and brushed dark hair off her forehead. The last time someone had taken care of her when she was sick, was a few years ago, and it was Noah…And it really wasn't "taken care of," as much as "came over to raid her fridge and make sure she hadn't died."

Quinn settled at the opposite end of the couch, and Rachel automatically settled her feet on the other woman's lap. She wiggled them in protest as Quinn started drumming along them with her fingers. Barnaby laid down in front of the couch; Rachel would have expected him to be up in Quinn's lap, but apparently he decided to be loyal today. For once.

About ten minutes in, Rachel fell asleep, face buried in Quinn's bear. She woke up a few hours later to find that ohmygod it was so fucking hot in there. She whined absently and threw the blanket on the floor. Quinn, who Rachel realized was still present, didn't say anything; just picked up the blanket and folded it onto the coffee table.

"You managed to get some sleep." Quinn offered quietly.

"I don't need sleep, I need my voice." She mumbled. God, she had turned into an irrational child. "Turn the TV off." She moaned. Rachel could hear the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang song in the background, and if that wasn't something that got into your head and drove you to the brink of insanity, well, nothing would.

Quinn complied. Rachel's eyes were closed, so she couldn't see Quinn, but the music stopped.

"Do you want to go to bed?" she heard a small voice ask, and she nodded dully in reply, but made no move to stand.

"Can I-is it okay if I carry you?"

Again, Rachel nodded. She clutched Pooh Bear tighter as she felt arms under her knees and her back, and then turned into the gummy bear-scented warmth that was Quinn. Quinn settled her down in bed, with medicine and cough drops and tissues, and then hovered unsurely near the doorway.

"Um, goodnight Rachel." She said quietly.

Rachel furrowed her brow, face pressed into her pillow. She really had no idea what was going on in her delirious state and, ohmygod, she was freezing.

"Where are you going?" she reached an arm out and flailed it around a little before dropping it in exhaustion. "You sleep here." Rachel mumbled.

It was completely silent for a minute, and then Rachel heard some rustling about before the lights went out and the other side of the bed dipped. She could hear Quinn fidgeting around with her hands, little tapping sounds, nails clicking.

"Quinn." Rachel breathed out and rolled over. Dear God she was so cold. She wanted that giraffe blanket back. It made her feel happy. Instead, Rachel deliriously curled herself up into Quinn's front, clutching the t-shirt and hoping for warmth.

She felt Quinn stiffen, and it took at least five minutes of just lying there, but finally Quinn's arms circled around Rachel and she was warm again. Quinn pulled her a little closer, and Rachel was able to drop off, aware that her breathing sounded like a drowning bulldozer, but not caring, because Quinn smelled sweet like gummy worms.

Rachel woke up the next morning, well, early afternoon, in an empty bed. She determined this by waving her arm around and waiting for it to collide with something; it did not, but a noise from the doorway caught her attention. Rachel lifted her head up, and saw a figure in the doorway; her eyes were so blurry, it could be a fucking sea monster for all she knew. But the sea monster spoke.

"I made you a fruit bowl." Quinn said softly, before lifting up her chin and stepping forward. "You need to eat it. Now…Please."

Rachel sat up and rubbed her eyes, and registered that, though her nose was still runny, her sore throat was gone. She focused on Quinn, who stood next to the bed, bowl held in an outstretched hand, mouth slightly open and waiting for a reaction.

Rachel slowly smiled and took the fruit. "Thank you, Quinn." Quinn sighed in relief.

"Do you feel better?" Hazel eyes searched her face, and Quinn reached a hand out, only stiltedly halting once in midair, to sort of tame Rachel's bedhead.

"I do. Still a little…runny." Rachel glanced up as Quinn took her hand away. "What did you have for breakfast?"

Quinn's eyes dropped to the ground. "Um,"

Rachel raised an eyebrow.

"I made you some sugar cookies to cheer you up, so I had…"

"You had twelve cookies for breakfast." Rachel stated plainly, trying to hide her smile with a massive piece of melon.

"No!" Quinn proclaimed, bright eyes meeting Rachel's. "I saved them for you. I had…the leftover dough…" she trailed off at the end with a frown.

"Oh my God, Quinn! You can't have a pile of cookie dough for breakfast! That's ridiculous!"

"I like it." Quinn said with a small smile. "It's better than the cookies themselves."

Rachel rolled her eyes. "It'll make you sick. Then I'll be the one giving you my three-legged Fuzzy to sleep with and you'll turn into Barnaby's favorite again. And I don't deal with vomit well; I start a chain reaction."

Quinn looked suitably chastised as she rocked back and forth on her heels, snapping the rubber band on her wrist.

Rachel beckoned her closer with a warm smile. "Now, help me finish this fruit, 'cause you put, like, nine melons in here, and I can't eat it by myself."

Rachel could eat melon by herself all day.