Disclaimer: Right, here's where I ask you all to trust me :) I know a lot of people were confused about what's going on, so here's a summary;
Chapters one and two are scenario A, whereas chapters three and four are scenario B. They're both 'what if' stories, where one little action (Finn making Rachel leave, and Rachel making Finn leave respectively) changes the outcome; these are basically parallel worlds, you see? If it still doesn't make much sense, hopefully chapter five will clear things up; sorry for the confusion!

Also, this chapter is dedicated to my amazing friend Kenz (egyouppt). There's no real reason, but you should go and check out her fics; she writes the best Finchel fiction ever, and you won't be disappointed if you take the time to read some of her work :) (also, thanks Kenz for reading through this chapter for me, even if I actually redid 90% of it).

Rachel felt her whole body shake with the words that couldn't possibly be true, because she'd seen Finn not even twenty minutes ago, and this was Lima; who would want to shoot Finn Hudson?

"Rachel, did you hear me?"

She nodded once, because she didn't have time to compile a list of reasons why Finn didn't deserve to be hurt, and she didn't have time to create a case against the likelihood of Finn being shot, and she didn't have to time to worry because she needed to act.

"We need to go and find him," she said, managing to hide her fear from her voice.

Kurt nodded his head then shook it from side to side as he dropped his iPhone to the floor, a crack smashing against the screen. "Finn -" He burst into tears, and as much as she wanted to join him, Rachel was a leader, and she had to take matters into her own hands. Finn's keys still in her pocket, she snatched Kurt's phone from the floor, grasped his hand in hers and pulled him towards the truck, a careful frown on her face.

"Rachel, Finn-"

"I know," she whispered.

She stayed focused, because she didn't have time for a breakdown. She helped Kurt into the truck, and once inside, she adjusted the seat to suit her height (Finn's legs were amazingly long).

"Which hospital is he at?" she asked calmly, holding the steering wheel carefully in her hands

"He's not there yet. There's been some problem, and they've had to p-pull over to treat him. Rachel, he's dying!"

Rachel clenched her jaw with renewed determination. "Where's the ambulance? Where's Carole?"

Kurt closed his eyes and rested his head against the car seat, steadying his breathing as he dug his fingers into his legs; he couldn't deal with this. Tears streamed down his face as he formulated a response. "They're parked up on Washington Street but I don't know why; Carole just said that she and my dad are on their way.

Rachel didn't dwell on why Finn wasn't at the hospital, nor did she dwell on the details of the situation. She simply turned on the engine, pressed her foot on the gas and sped down the street, her hands clasped tightly around the wheel.

They drove in silence, partly because both of them were emotionally drained, and partly because Rachel was too busy concentrating on staying alive; Finn's truck was temperamental and big, and she felt like she was going to hit something.

However, she suddenly felt the need to sing, because singing always calmed her down, and the silence in the truck was eating away at her, especially since she could hear Kurt's suffering sobs now and again.

"Down in a local bar, out on the boulevard, the sound of an old guitar is saving you from sinking. It's a long way down, it's a long way." Rachel bit her lip, looking across at Kurt. "It's a song by Dashboard Confessional; Finn is a big fan."

Kurt glared in her direction. "You think I don't know that just because I never dated him? In case you didn't know Miss Berry, I'm his brother, and he's actually on speaking terms with me."

Rachel felt like she'd just been slapped, because she'd expected kindness, not unnecessary hostility, especially in the strained circumstances. "Don't turn away; dry your eyes, dry your eyes. Don't be afraid, but keep it all inside, all inside." She wasn't going to let Kurt make her feel even worse about everything, so she continued to sing the chorus because it helped keep her sane, and that was something she desperately needed. "When you fall apart, dry your eyes, dry your eyes. Life is always hard for the Belle of the Boulevard."

She turned onto Washington Street and slammed the brakes down, causing Kurt to jerk in his seat angrily, because there were ambulances, and police cars, and spectators, and chaos.

Rachel felt a hand fasten around hers, and her passing frustration with Kurt dissolved because it was all irrelevant now.

"Let's go." The two of them clambered out of the truck, and without hesitating, they held hands again because the contact was reassuring, and they needed reassurance like air.

"Will they let us see him?" Kurt whispered, doing nothing to hide his fear.

Rachel nodded, though a little hesitantly. "There's no reason why they wouldn't. Leave it to me." She pulled Kurt towards the commotion, and focused on breathing in time with their footsteps. She was an expert on breathing patterns. It was a well known fact that the members of glee complained about everything she did (or even suggested), and breathing exercises had been one of them. They'd failed to understand that the key to a perfect performance was the ability to control the flow of air travelling through the lungs, and she'd only managed to get Finn to practice with her after she'd promised to try that ridiculous COD game (he'd almost passed out when he held his breath for too long and she hadn't been able to grasp the concept of shooting the enemy).

She smiled briefly at the memory. She'd been so frightened when Finn had collapsed on the floor, gasping for breath, that she'd promised herself that she'd always be there to protect him, despite the impossibility of that notion. Now she promised herself that she'd hold it together, for Kurt's sake as well as her own.

Rachel tugged gently on Kurt's hand, and without a word, she pulled him into the crowd of onlookers, her grip never wavering because she refused to lose him.

"Can you believe it?"

"He's lucky to be alive."

"It's just terrible that they can't get him to the hospital."

"Excuse me, can you help me please?" Rachel approached two old ladies who had been talking about the incident. She wanted to see Finn, that wasn't an issue, but she needed to know what was happening.

One of the women looked taken aback. "Of course dear, what's the matter?" The tear stains on Rachel's face didn't go unnoticed, but the stranger didn't push her on it.

"My boyf- my friend was involved in an accident, and I was wondering if you knew anything?" Rachel kept her voice calm and steady while Kurt hiccupped now and again beside her.

The other woman looked instantly sympathetic. "Oh sweetie, I'm so sorry to hear that." She patted Rachel kindly on the shoulder, nodding sadly. "He was shot." Rachel flinched; it was a shock to hear it from someone else's mouth. "Mavis and I were walking home, as we always do on a Saturday afternoon, and when we heard gunfire we couldn't believe it!"

The woman known as Mavis nodded eagerly. "We were scared out of our wits!"

Kurt tried to pull Rachel away, because this wasn't anything new to them, but she resisted. "Why hasn't the ambulance made it to the hospital? Is there some kind of problem?"

The old women looked at each other as if exchanging silent conversation. "We're not sure."

"It looks like the boy had called the ambulance before he was shot, and when he was attacked, one of the bullets hit the ambulance's tyre," piped up Mavis.

The other woman shook her head. "That's just a rumour though, we-"

"Thank you!" called Rachel as she dragged Kurt towards the ambulance. Specifics weren't important; Finn was still there, being treated in the ambulance. With a deep breath and a determined frown, she forced herself upon the mercy of the EMTs, who were yelling at everyone in earshot.

Drink up, baby down
Mmm, are you in or are you out?

"My name is Rachel Berry," she said loudly, holding her free hand towards one of the ambulance technicians, "and I'm looking for Finn Hudson. Could you please tell me what his status is?"

One EMT, a small, tired looking man, glared at Rachel incredulously. "And how is that any of your business? We have a boy to treat, and-"

"I'm well aware of that," she said coldly, a crease appearing between her eyebrows. She lowered her hand, which the man hadn't taken, and pulled away from Kurt's grip so that she could cross her arms and huff. "I'm his g-girlfriend, and I want to know how he's doing!"

The man looked hesitant, but a female colleague strode over, nodding once at Rachel and Kurt. "He's stable. We haven't released the name so I'm trusting that the two of you are related to him in some way." She pulled the ambulance door back, revealing a stretcher and a still, barely breathing figure. "You can see him for a minute, but we're working here. One minute, okay?"

Leave your things behind
'Cause it's all going off without you

Rachel was silent, unable to express her gratitude. She stepped inside the ambulance, and when it was confirmed, when she saw Finn Hudson covered in blood and equipment, she whispered his name softly.

"Finn..." Without a second thought, she took his hand, squeezing it tightly with her cold fingers (she'd left her gloves at the tree farm, and couldn't care less if she tried).

She winced as she looked at Finn's face since she barely recognised him; his skin was drained of colour, and he wore an intimidating mask that frightened her more than she could have thought possible.

Excuse me, too busy, you're writing your tragedy
These mishaps you bubble wrap
When you've no idea what you're like

Kurt hovered beside them, his hand outstretched, though not touching Finn's body, like an invisible barrier separated them.

"He's alive," he whispered, though it sounded like a question instead of a statement.

Rachel kissed Finn's limp hand, making comforting noises under her breath. "He is."

So let go, jump in
Oh well, what you waiting for?

"I'm here Finn," she whispered, brushing her hand against his cheek. "And I'm going to be here until you're better, because I still love you, even if you-" She hiccupped as she buried her face into the crook of his arm. "I love you so much, and I'm so sorry."

It's alright
'Cause there's beauty in the breakdown

Kurt rested a hand on her shoulder, and said nothing else.

Oh, it's so amazing here
It's alright
'Cause there's beauty in the breakdown

"It all seems so superficial now," Rachel breathed to both Finn and Kurt. "I can't believe that I was so hung up on something that happened months ago when my boyf... Finn's been shot." She wiped a fresh batch of tears away from her eyes and made a sobbing noise. "I don't care if you never want to speak to me again Finn, but please, don't give up."

It gains the more it gives
And then it rises with the fall

Finn's eyelids flickered like he was dreaming, and Rachel choked on all the things she needed to say.

So hand me that remote
Can't you see that all that stuff's a sideshow?

"I miss his eyes, Kurt. Finn has the most amazing eyes. They cut straight to the core and they see what's really happening, most of the time..."

"Kurt? Rachel?" Both turned to look towards Carole, who had appeared beside them, clinging to Burt's hand for dear life. "F-F-Finn?"

Such boundless pleasure

Rachel looked away from them all so that she could watch Finn instead, but when she did, she noticed a red liquid leaking through the bandages on his chest.

We've no time for later now

"Help, someone help!"

You can't await your own arrival

The EMTs rushed into the ambulance, pushing people out of the way, and Rachel found herself crushing Carole's hand.

You've twenty seconds to comply

"He's bleeding out! He's not going to last here! We need to get him to the hospital!"

So let go, jump in

Gauze, bandages, saline drips; they scared the hell out of Rachel, out of everyone.

Oh well, what you waiting for?

"Finn-"

It's alright

"There's too much blood!"

'Cause there's beauty in the breakdown

Rachel's body began to shut down at the same time as Finn's.

So let go, just get in

She felt her knees give way, and she collapsed, her eyes closed, her breathing shallow.

Oh, it's so amazing here

"Rachel!"

'Cause there's beauty in the breakdown

Finn's eyes opened.

A/N: I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! :)

Almost done with this fic now; just one more chapter to go. Hopefully, you can see the parallels between Finn and Rachel's experiences, and like I said, as long as I pull it off, the next chapter should explain everything. If you do have a question, please feel free to leave it in a review and I'll get back to you again, Lyrics are from Dashboard Confessional's Belle of the Boulevard and Frou Frou's Let Go.