Was listening to Pandora radio online while writing this chapter. And this song by Carrie Underwood started playing. And while listening to it, I decided it was perfect. This is kind of the "turning point" in the story.
Helpless
Chapter 6 – I'll Stand By You
"Well, well, well. I always knew that someday I'd find a person in my daughter's bed." An older man's voice echoed from the doorway, causing Quinn to stir in her sleep. "But I never expected it to be another girl." He tilted his head to the side as he watched the young blonde's eyes finally open. "Well good morning there."
Quinn jumped and backed away from the unknown man. She clutched the blanket tightly to her chest and stared at him wide-eyed. "Daddy don't scare her." Rachel appeared beside the man before pushing him out of her way and entering the room. "Did you just now wake up?" Quinn nodded, still not moving a muscle from her spot on the bed. "Daddy, will you leave us, please." The older man turned and left the room, leaving his daughter alone with Quinn.
"I should probably get going. I don't want to cause any more trouble to you or your family." The blonde stood up and made her way to the door, running her fingers through her hair as she went. This in turn, caused the front of her shirt to ride up and Rachel saw them.
"Quinn, what's that?" She questioned without even thinking. Quinn quickly pulled down the front of her shirt and continued making her way to the door. "Please don't go." The diva reached out to grab the blonde's hand, halting her retreat just as quickly as it started.
"Don't touch me Berry." Quinn jerked hand away from Rachel's and continued her retreat.
"Quinn, come back here, what were those bandages on your stomach for?" The loud voice of the brunette drew the attention of her dad who had been sitting in the living room.
When Quinn's eyes locked with his and she saw the worried look on his face she sighed a heavy sigh and turned to ascend the steps back to Rachel's room. "Don't worry about the bandages." The blonde allowed her eyes to lock with Rachel's and everything she doubted at that moment about Rachel's trust washed out of her body. Ever since coming out to the shorter diva, Quinn felt relief whenever they were near one another. She felt as if nothing could hurt her. Rachel was her safety net.
Rachel stepped past Quinn and closed her bedroom door. "Quinn, what's really going on?" Her words were full of pain and sympathy all at once. The Cheerio couldn't handle it anymore. She dropped to hear knees as heart wrenching sobs filled Rachel's room. Her entire body trembled. "Oh god Quinn." Rachel didn't hesitate to drop to her knees beside the blonde and hold her close. "Sh, it's okay. I got you." She rocked their bodies gently on the floor. Her fingers stroked through Quinn's long blonde hair. "It's going to be alright." She continued whispering softly into the blonde's shoulder.
"I don't know what to do Rachel."
"Well, for starters, you can try talking to me." Rachel brushed some stray hair out of Quinn's face before giving her a warm, loving smile.
"You wouldn't understand Rachel." Quinn pushed herself to her feet before moving to sit on the edge of the diva's bed.
"And what, exactly, would I not understand?"
The blonde shook her head, her hands coming together to rest on her lap. "I have no home. That's why you found me in my car this morning." She kept her eyes on the floor. She was too afraid to look up at Rachel for fear of more tears falling.
"Well, there is an easy solution for that Quinn Fabray."
"What what would that be?"
Rachel moved to sit beside Quinn on her bed. "You'll stay here with us. We have an extra room, and I know once we tell my fathers' your situation they'll be more than happy to offer it to you."
"I couldn't do that…" Quinn swallowed nervously and willed herself to look at the diva beside her.
"And why not?"
"It would be too hard."
"Quinn Fabray you're not making a bit of sense. Why would it be hard for you to stay here with us? It would be a roof over your head, food in yo-" Before she had a chance to finish her sentence she was interrupted by a pair of soft, shaking lips pressing against her own. Her eyes grew wide and before she had a chance to respond, Quinn pulled away and stood up to run from the room. "Quinn wait!" Before Rachel could catch up with the blonde, she'd vanished through the front door.
The next day at school Quinn did her best to avoid the diva. She modified her regular routes to and from classes, and succeeded in her efforts. Until Glee. Glee was the only class she shared that term with the brunette. She all but ran from her math class to Glee, stopping only long enough to shove her books into her locker. She couldn't let Rachel catch her alone. Running was all Quinn knew how to do. It was always easier to run then to face the reality of situations. Once in the choir room, she made her way to the back corner and took a seat.
"So, Fabray." Santana turned around to look at the blonde, a smirk on her face the whole time. Once she had Quinn's attention, she spoke further. "Word on the street that Coach has been looking for you. Seems you're a hard woman to find."
"What do you want Santana?"
The Latina held up her hands in defense. "Who said I wanted anything? I was just going to give you a heads up that you're about to be at the bottom of the pyramid."
Quinn's face faltered. Of course. She'd already lost everything else, why not add that to the list as well. Her bottom lip was caught between her teeth as her fists clenched in the bottom of her Cheerio's skirt. "And why should I believe you Santana?" She threw on her best HBIC smile. A smile that was always fake.
"Don't say I didn't warn ya." She turned back around just as Rachel entered the room, followed shortly after by Mr. Schuester.
"Alright guys." He stepped in front of the piano and rubbed his hands in front of him.
But before he had a chance to continue, Rachel stood up and interrupted him. "Mr. Schue, if I may."
"Rachel, I'd really rather you not."
"But it's important." He threw his hands up in defeat and took a seat to the side. "I've come to some realizations last night about myself." She glanced at the blonde briefly before turning to hand some sheet music to Brad.
Oh, why you look so sad? When the night falls on you I'll stand by you So, if you're mad get mad When you're standin' at the crossroads
The tears are in your eyes
Come on and come to me now
Don't, be ashamed to cry
Let me see you through
'Cause I've seen a dark side too
You don't know what to do
Nothing you confess
Could make me love you less
I'll stand by you
I won't let nobody hurt you
I'll stand by you
Don't hold it all inside
Come on and talk to me now
Hey, what you got to hide?
I get angry too
Well, I'm a lot like you
And don't know which path to choose
Let me come along
'Cause even if
Quinn covered her mouth as a sob broke free. Before anybody could question her she jumped up from her seat and ran from the choir room.
Rachel stopped in the middle of her lyrics, something that caused half the club to gasp in shock over. "Quinn!"
"Quinn where do you think you're going?" Mr. Schue called out for the blonde who ignored him.
The diva held up her hands to stop the teacher from following the blonde. "I'll go after her Mr. Schue." Without another word she hurried from the room and followed Quinn into the bathroom at the end of the hall. "Quinn?" She whispered as she entered the bathroom. "Quinn? I saw you come in here. Where are you? What's wrong?"
"Why did you do that?" She responded from the handicap stall at the end.
"It's the only way I know how to express myself Quinn. You can't hate me for letting people know how I feel."
"You think I've got it bad now? It's going to be ten times worse now that people know you love me." Quinn lifted the bottom of her Cheerios top and pulled off the white bandages.
"Quinn if I remember correctly, and my memory hardly ever fails me. It was you who kissed me first. I should think that would have meant something."
"I made a mistake!" The blonde snapped before going silent. She bit her bottom lip as she lowered the blade to her skin, it ripping through three times before she watched the blood flow freely from the newest of her wounds. "I'm going to be an even bigger social outcast then I was yesterday."
Rachel rested her head against the stall door, a few tears threatening to break free from her eyes. "I wish I knew what was really going on in your head Quinn."
The door to the stall flung open just as Quinn placed her hand into her purse, putting her blade away. "Rachel, you'll never know what's going on in my head."
"Stop it! Stop lying to yourself. I saw how you completely broke down in front of me yesterday. Quinn Fabray does not break down. Especially in front of other people. I saw you at your weakest yesterday Quinn. You let me in, in a way that I know you'd never let anybody else in. Not Santana, not even Brittany. You chose me Quinn. You picked me to help you even if you don't want to acknowledge that and I'm going to help you."
Quinn looked at her reflection in the mirror before dabbing at her running mascara and turning to look Rachel in the eye. "I don't need help Rachel. I don't need help from anybody, especially you. You have no idea what I'm dealing with right now Manhands." She sniffled once and allowed her hand to rest on her stomach, which was still throbbing. What she hadn't noticed was that the blood from her wounds had seeped through the bandage.
"Quinn, you're bleeding!"
Before the blonde could react, Rachel had grabbed the front of her uniform top and lifted it up slightly to reveal the same bandages she'd seen the day before, only they were drenched in blood. "Rachel, stop. I'm fine." Only she didn't fight as the brunette grabbed a handful of paper towels and pressed them to the wounds. "Rachel please stop." She looked away as tears flowed freely down her cheeks.
"Is this what you've been hiding Quinn?" The blonde nodded, never bringing herself to look at the shorter woman. "Let me help you clean it up okay?" Again Quinn nodded. She never said a word as Rachel helped her sit on the floor. She grabbed some more paper towels, got them wet and sat down beside the blonde. "I'm going to take this off." She pulled the soaked bandage away from Quinn's skin and gasped.
"Please don't tell anybody." It was the first time Quinn had spoken since Rachel found the blood.
They locked eyes, not another word was spoken between them as Rachel leaned in and gave Quinn a shy, gentle kiss. "I won't."
"Thank you."
"As long as you agree to stay with us."
Quinn bit her lip before making a counter offer. "As long as you kiss me again."
Rachel smiled before cupping Quinn's cheek and bringing their lips together again.
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