It was endless texts and conversations and six movie nights later when Zach hit her again. There was no way that Finn could be mad that she had broken her promise, because this time it was his fault, this time it was about Finn.

He opened the door to a disheveled and tear-stained Rachel and immediately knew what had happened.

"I don't know how it came up- I just mentioned to that him you had come over a few times and he just- he just." Rachel let out a choked sob and let Finn gather her in his arms.

"This is all my fault Rachel, I am so sorry. I shouldn't have been spending so much time with you when I knew he wouldn't like it. I care about you but he is your boyfriend and I did kind of mess his face up- not that he doesn't deserve another round now." Finn clenched his jaw as it was resting on top of her head, he was going to fall apart if this girl didn't stop hurting immediately.

"No, I invited you over, and I don't regret it. I just don't know if I can take this from him anymore. Really Finn, it's not your fault, you don't have to do anything." Rachel sniffed, taking a step back and looking at him.

"I'd do anything for you." Finn said looking into her eyes, when was this girl going to get that through her head?

Rachel's frown lifted into a smile and she wiped away a tear that had trickled down her face- a face that remained unhurt this time.

Normally she watched what she said around Zach, she practically walked around on egg-shells to ensure that he didn't have a blow up. But she had been happily chatting away when she accidentally mentioned it and Zach had come at her from across the room, shoving her into her closet and hitting her shoulder square on the door knob. He was very controlling of her lately- where she went, what she did, and even who she did it with, but he didn't know about this and that made him very angry. Before she had thought that it was her fault for angering him- that she somehow deserved this. But lately she had been feeling like she didn't love him at all. It scared her so much, she knew she felt something for Finn but she couldn't quite figure it out yet, and she knew that Finn would give her time until she did. After Zach had pushed her he calmed down quickly- before her dads heard from downstairs. He did however talk to her in a very low but stern voice about how much he had sacrificed for her and how she was throwing it all away by being a slut. He had almost started crying before she began to apologize profusely, telling him truthfully that nothing had happened. And then in the middle of it all, she realized she didn't have to continue doing this. She didn't have to listen to him guilt tripping her and manipulating her when he was the one hurting her.

She suddenly just didn't believe his lies anymore. Especially when she was in Finn's arms. The only reason she was now is because she immediately collected herself and kicked Zach out of her house- it wasn't that hard when her dads were around- and drove to Finn's house.

Finn had had enough of waiting for an answer from her, she was just standing on his front step staring teary eyed into space when he surprised her and picked her up bridal style and carried her inside to his sofa. He placed her down gently and laid a blanket on her before he went back to the front door and returned with his sneakers. He sat down on the couch and began pulling them on, much to her confusion.

"What are you doing?" Rachel said as she sat up a little.

"I've had enough of just telling myself I'm not going to be a coward anymore. I don't care what he does to me, I have sat by and let him hurt you and listened to you cry about it way too many times. It kills me I haven't done this earlier."

"Finn what are you talking about, do what? I kicked him out; you're not going to find him anyways."

"Oh, I know exactly where he's going to be, if he's not getting wasted right now then the pope's not Catholic. Look my mom is off her shift in three hours, that gives me just enough time to drop you off before I go over there and give him a taste of his own medicine." Finn continued rushing around getting his jacket and his keys.

"Finn, don't do that! You'll just be stooping to his level, I shouldn't have come here, please just calm down, please? "

"I won't be stooping to his level; I'll be giving someone my own size a healthy beating, not manipulating and pushing around a defenseless young lady. And please don't say you shouldn't have come here Rach. I-" Finn took a deep sigh, his shoulder slumping as he finally stopped to see the effect his words were having on her. He took her hand, he could feel her heartbeat thrumming and she was looking at him with tears welling in her eyes . "Alright, Rach, I'll calm down. But I still have to at least say something to him. He can't keep doing this. I've heard enough from you in these past few weeks to be able to say with confidence that you don't want to be with him anymore- you're only sticking around because he's manipulating you."

Rachel took a deep breath and looked around, not sure exactly what to say, but knowing that whatever she said Finn wouldn't rest until something had been done. No one had ever cared for her so unselfishly this way. No one.

"Please just don't get hurt. Please."