CHAPTER 4

Mike ran through the hospital in a panic. "Room 103, 105, 107." He muttered to himself as he passed each room. "121!" He said as he spotted the room Rachel was in. He opened the door to find Nick sitting next to Rachel's bed texting. Sam was on the other side asleep, resting his head on the side table. He looked at Rachel, and held his breath. She had bruises everywhere, yet she was sleeping so peacefully.

Nick looked up at him and stood. "Mike." He said. He walked towards him.

"How is she? What happened?" He asked, wanting answers.

"Come." He said placing a hand on his shoulder, leading him out. Once they were outside, Nick shut the door.

"So? What happened?"

"I'm not sure. Sam said he found Rachel in the bathroom. Someone was beating her." He said grimacing.

"What? How bad is she hurt?"

"Pretty bad. Though she has other bruises, and they couldn't have come from then."

He just looked at him. Other bruises? God! How couldn't he have noticed? She was always acting so depressed. This wasn't a random thing. Someone had been doing this to her for a while. He reminded himself that when he found out who was doing this... they'd be dead.

"She's been acting really differently lately Nick. Did you call the police?" He asked.

"Yep. They're gonna come in for some statements once Rachel's up to it. Me and Sam already gave ours."

"Okay. God..." Mike just shook his head. This was his fault. He should've been there to protect her from that creep. He'd seen how she was that morning; he shouldn't have let her out of his sight. He hadn't been able to find her when she didn't show up for Glee. He mentally slapped himself.

"Hey, Kurt, Blaine, and Finn are on their way." Nick piped up. "Oh, and Puck."

Finn... God he hated that guy. He didn't deserve to see her. He didn't even care about her. Now Mike on the other hand did. He'd do anything for her, anything. "Okay." He said. He looked through the little window in the door and spotted Rachel sit up. "She's awake."

Nick looked where Mike had been looking then turned back to him. "Listen, she's in real bad shape, don't ask too many questions. Okay?"

He just nodded his head, and then made his way in. He took another chair and brought it beside Rachel's bed. He watched as she turned her head to him and smiled lightly. Who could hurt her? She was so small. So innocent.

"How are you?" He whispered placing his hand on her arm.

"I'm fine." She whispered so softly it was a miracle he heard it.

"Rach, you're not fine." He said. "You've been hurt."

"Mike, you don't need to..."

"Shh." He interrupted. "I'll always need to."

She nodded her head.

"Rach?" Mike looked up to see Finn standing at the door panting. He clenched his teeth, and felt Rachel grab a hold of his hand tightly. "Rach? Are you okay? What happened?" He said running up to them, practically pushing Sam out of his chair.

"Ow!" Sam yelped as he fell to the ground.

"Sorry." Finn said. Mike huffed, the moron didn't care.

He watched as Sam stood up and glared at him.

He looked at Finn's nose. It looked broken. "What happened to your nose?" Mike asked, not actually caring.

"A football hit me." He said without looking up.

Mike then noticed Kurt and Blaine at the door.

He was about to get up when he felt Rachel tighten her grip of his hand, and decided to stay.

Kurt and Blaine walked into the room. They were clearly worried, but didn't know what to say. Mike signalled for them to pull a chair over. Blaine whispered something in Kurt's ear and left. Kurt sat down next to him.

"Where'd Blaine go?" Mike asked.

"To get a coffee, he doesn't like seeing her like this." He paused. "God. I can't believe this is happening. What happened?" Kurt looked scared.

"Some guy bet her up." He said gritting his teeth.

Rachel just lay there uncomfortable. Everyone was surrounding her. All she wanted was for Finn to go, but she was just so scared of him to say anything. Last time she attempted at telling someone what he was doing he had... she cringed, she had to stop thinking about that. She only wanted, Nick, Sam and Mike to stay. She knew the others would come, but she was praying they wouldn't. She didn't want them to see her like this.

Finn was holding one hand, which only made her squeeze Mike's even harder. She looked at Finn, who was staring straight at her. He showed no emotion. He didn't care what happened to her and she knew it.

She looked over at Nick who was leaning against the wall looking down. She was an idiot. She couldn't do anything right. If she had listened to Finn she wouldn't be in this situation. She'd over heard Sam being asked to go for some questioning. She had no doubt in her mind that it was the police. Now they'd try anything to find who it was. Maybe that wasn't such a bad idea. They could figure out it had been Finn. Firstly, Sam had broken Finn's nose, maybe something would click. Then again, Sam wasn't really the brightest guy around. Yet, Sam didn't like Finn; he'd do anything to pin something on him.

"I'll be right back sweetie," Finn said, pecking her on the check.

Thank-god, she didn't want him coming back.

"Rachel?" She turned to see Mike looking at her. "Do you know who did this to you? Do you know what they look like?"

She took a deep breath, maybe she should tell them. But... oh god, she was just so confused, she didn't know what to do.

"T-Tall, r-really tall." She could barely make out her own words. She hoped it helped, but she was just way too scared to tell them it was Finn.

Mike nodded. "Okay." He said. "That's a start."

He was the sweetest. He cared for her; he was always there when she needed him.

"I'm tired." She said. She really was. She yawned and looked up at Mike.

He nodded. "Okay, get some rest."

As soon as he let go of her hand, she instantly wanted to hold his again, but instead she just lay her head down.

She watched as Kurt left the room with Nick and walked over to Blaine who was holding two drinks. Mike stayed sitting where he was, but moved his chair back and closed his eyes. Sam mumbled something and rested his head back on the side table and closed his eyes. She smiled; he looked so cute when he was annoyed.

"Hey, Kurt!" Puck yelled out. "Where's Rachel?" He asked. Ever since he'd gotten the text from Sam he'd been in hyper drive to get over and see how she was. He'd been listing worst case scenarios on the way.

"She's just gone back to sleep." He said, sitting next to the dude from Kurt's school. What was his name? Dane? No... Rain? No... Eck, who cared? He was here to see how Rachel was.

"How is she?" He asked concerned.

"She's doing okay. I wasn't in there for long before I had to let her sleep."

Puck nodded. "Where's Sam?" He asked looking around.

"He's asleep in there with Rachel and Mike."

"Okay." He paused. "Wait, where's everyone else? I thought the whole glee club would be here or something."

"I don't know. I texted Mercedes to let her know. Because she left for New York to see her dad today." He started. "I don't know where Tina or Artie are, along with the others."

"What about Finn?"

"He just left for the toilet."

Puck sighed then nodded. He was just so confused. Who'd want to hurt Rachel? Actually quite a lot of people, but who'd take it that far? Yeah he found the small brunette annoying, but he'd always have her back. Well that didn't work did it?

Where was Quinn anyways? Yeah, he knew they didn't really get along that well, but they'd seem to have made some progress lately. He'd think she'd be here. Maybe she was in a situation where she couldn't make it... he decided to just leave it at that.

"Puck." Someone said from behind him. He turned to see who it was. It was Finn.

He glared at him. That moron should've been watching out for his girlfriend. "Finn."

Finn just plopped a piece of gum into his mouth, chewed and sat down on a seat. He didn't even seem to care that his fucking girlfriend had been beaten up.

He clenched his fists and sat two seats away from Rachel's cousin Nick.