Yay! New chapter! Aren't you excited! I am!
This chapter was super fun to write so I'm pretty excited!
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Rachel relaxed against Noah as her friends came in to see her. Mercedes was sitting on one side of the bed while Santana occupied the opposite. Britt was sitting in Artie's lap listening intently on the chatter. Mike and Tina stood at the end of the bed with Finn by their side. Sam and Quinn were still holding one another in the corner. They were keeping a close eye on her and she knew it. So she'd periodically glance at them with a comfortable smile to reassure them. They were here. The people she loved more than anything. They were all here.
Mercedes was sitting comfortably on Rachel's floral bed spread as the room began to quiet. Not that it had been particularly loud to begin with, but it seemed that now everyone was being hit with the reality of the situation. Quinn had warned them about Rach's appearance, but none of them were prepared. Rachel looked like she had been wailed on for hours. What really stung Mercedes, is that could very well been what happened. She prayed it wasn't.
"Man hands," "Dwarf," "Midget," The list of names that Santana had called Rachel over the years were extensive. But now, Santana simply called her "B". Yeah, Santana and B weren't exactly best buds for a while, but Rach had a way of growing on you. She'd do something super annoying, but then she'd do something really sweet. For instance, Santana had been busting her butt for a stupid solo when low-and-behold: Mr. Shue gives it to B. Before Santana can go all Lime Heights Adjacent on the tiny girl, B spoke up. San still remembers her exact words, "Mr. Shue, while I do appreciate the vote of confidence and I am know I am well capable of singing 'Revolution', I think Santana should have the solo. Her voice is perfect for it, and I must admit she has a better emotional connection to the song." Santana was not the only person left with their jaws on the floor. Though she had never told anyone, the night of that performance, she had a meltdown involving the words "I can't do this." Rachel took her aside and told her how amazing she was and that she believed in her.
No, Santana and her B had not always been best friends, but now, they would travel to the ends of the earth and back for each other. Especially now.
Brittany knew she wasn't the brightest light in the bulb, but she stopped being embarrassed of that a long time ago. Even so, she could still understand that the room was tense and to think about her questions before actually asking them. She loved Rachel; Brittany loved everyone. Even though the room was slightly nervous that Brittany might say the wrong thing, Rachel was so grateful for the Cheerio's innocence right now. Brittany was dressed in her bunny pajamas. This included her bunny slippers and or course two bunny ears on her head band. Exactly what B needed to make her smile.
The screaming that took place only a few minutes earlier was terrifying. But being stuck downstairs, not knowing what was happening was torturous. Artie was so grateful when Mike and Finn came to help him upstairs. He wasn't so grateful when he got a look at Rachel. He couldn't take his eyes off her lips. Artie had always looked at Rachel as a friend, but even he couldn't deny she had beautiful lips. But now, as she sat there all bruised and beaten, her lips wear busted in at least three places. One of the cuts spread all the way from the inside of her lip to just under her right cheekbone. How could someone do this?
Mike and Tina held eachother's hands tightly, both trying their best not to stare at the marks that covered Rachel's body. Mainly the deep gashes on her chest. Every few moments, Rachel would pull her blanket a little tighter trying to cover the wounds, but every few moments it would fall down to her stomach revealing the marks. Were those bite marks? Tina thought. Who did this to you Rach? Was the only question that kept repeating in Mike's mind. They weren't aware of it, but they would both have the answers to their questions soon enough.
Finn had expected to feel a whirlwind of emotions when he saw Rachel tonight, but it was mostly shock. They had been through so much this past year. He had lost his best friend, girlfriend, the child he believed to be his own, his virginity, his other girlfriend, his stepbrother to another school...would this never end? Puck and Finn had slowly mended their friendship after the whole baby-daddy drama, but their relationship would never be the same. Watching Puckerman and Rachel bond and fall in love (even if they couldn't admit it, he could see it) was so painful, but anytime he tried to move in on Rachel, and he wouldn't deny it, he had tried on numerous occasions, Rachel would reject him or Puck would cause him some sort of physical pain. So he had started to let go of her slowly, but surely. Looking at her now, he felt shocks of anger run through his veins. Whether he wanted it or not, Puckerman was going to have some help beating the crap out of the punk that did this.
Quinn stood there watching Rachel and relaxed the more she saw Rae relaxed. Taking the calm moment, Quinn started planning. The Berry's house was very large, but they needed figure out sleeping arrangements. They all couldn't just pair off into couples, there wasn't enough room and it would just complicate things. There was a large guest room down the hall from Rachel's room that she, Mercedes, and Tina could sleep in. Artie, Finn, and Mike would take the larger of the two guest bedrooms downstairs and San and Britt could take the smaller of the two, which was still stunningly large. Sam and Puck should take the master room, since it's the closes to Rachel's room. She would talk to everyone when she had a chance.
Sam stood next to Quinn with his mind running 100 mph. What was the next step tonight? Who's going to school tomorrow? Does Rachel need stitches? What was he going to tell his parents? He shoved his fingers through his thick blond hair and tried to calm down. Instead he pulled on Quinn, "Hey can we talk in the hall? I want ya to fill me in." Quinn looked back at Rae; fear filled her at the thought of leaving Rae. Sam sensed this, "Hey, we'll be right outside the door, 'k?" Once Quinn nodded, Sam gave Puck a gesture signaling that he and Quinn would be outside for a minute.
Puck rested his forehead against Rachel's hair and closed his eyes. The room was mostly quiet, except for the random comment or question here and there. The majority of what was said was words of comfort and reassurance to Rachel. When Noah told her that they were all going to be staying with her, Rachel closed her eyes and let the tears or relief fall down her face. She winced slightly as the salty tears touched her scratches and bloody lip. Seeing this, Noah wiped the tears from her cheeks. He could see that Rachel was becoming worn out, so he made a suggestion, "Hey, whadya think about some ice cream? Hmm? Mint chocolate chip?"
Rachel's stomach growled at the thought, but it also made her queasy. She knew she should eat, so she nodded her head and said, "Sounds yummy, but I don't think we have any."
"No prob!" Puck shrugged, some of us "gotta make a few runs for clothes and stuff like that, so ice cream is now added to the list." His smile was the one that said, 'aren't you proud of me?'
Rachel's eyes grew wide at his use of the word "us", "Noah, please..." She didn't want to breakdown in front of the group, but the thought of Noah's absence made her heart race and fear take over.
Realizing her concerns, Noah was quick to reassure her, "I'm not leaving baby." he kissed her on the forehead and told her he'd be right back. "Mercedes, stay with Rach," He whispered than ushered the rest of the group in the hallway, then down into the foyer, Sam and Quinn included.
"Ok, it's almost midnight now. Mike, Brittany, Finn, Sam, y'all go ahead and head out to get every one's stuff," Quinn had informed Sam that he was to help Finn, so he wasn't completely shocked at Puck's orders. "Everybody else, tell him what y'all need. Mike, as for me, I need my toothbrush, a bunch of clothes, and get my guitar," Noah continued.
"Tina? Can you and Mercedes drive to Cub's Corner and pick up a bunch of ice cream, especially mint chocolate chip, and other movie snacks. I have a feeling we're gonna be watching a whole lot of funny girl for a while.
"Artie and San, start concocting a story before the parent's start calling."
Mike piped up, telling Puck that they had all made up excuse to cover them for the night. So that's one thing to check off the list, Puck sighed.
Quinn dashed up stairs to switch spots with Mercedes. As six of the teenagers made their way outside arguing over which cars to take, Noah excused himself and left Artie and Santana to their scheming.
Back and Rachel's room, Quinn was laying on the bed telling Rachel about all that the group had discussed downstairs. Puck joined his two favorite girls and listened to them talk while drawing circles on the back of Rachel's palm. He listened as Quinn explained the sleeping arrangements. When she finished by saying he and Sam should take the master bedroom he sat up to protest, but Rachel beat him to it.
"No, Quinn. I'm fine with all of it, but I want Noah in here," Rachel looked to see Noah's reaction and was pleased to see his big grin. "I understand if you don't want to, but I'd also really like it if you and Sam stayed in here as well."
Rachel was a little embarrassed, so she was quite relieved when Quinn said, "Of course we will!" Quinn glanced between Puck and Rachel and decided to take her exit, "I'm gonna go get the rooms ready, k?" She gave Rae a kiss on the cheek before letting the couple have some alone time.
Noah sat at the head of the bed and after sliding his legs under the blanket with Rach; he pulled her into his lap and held her tight. "Hi," he whispered against her ear and nuzzled her neck.
"Well hello to you too," she sighed and relaxed into his arms.
"Baby?" Puck got her attention. When she looked him in the eye he asked her, "Can you tell me what happened?" He could literally see her body tense and the pain return to her eyes. As much as he wanted to take it back, he knew couldn't. He needed to know. "I'm not going anywhere Rach. I'm going to be right here. Just tell me what you can, okay?"
He waited with patience until Rachel slowly nodded her head. She took a few deep breaths before telling him what he needed to know most: who. She knew Puck wasn't stupid, he knew that her assault had been sexual and he could see how severe it was. While he would want for her to tell him everything, he wanted to know who it was the most. Rachel tried but she couldn't speak. She had dated Jesse. Told him she loved him. Almost gave her virginity to him. Noah knew all of this. What if he blamed her? She had, at one time, welcomed Jesse's advances. What if Noah thought that it was her fault for "leading Jesse on" or something like that? It would kill her! "Noah, I- you're going to hate me, Noah!" she began to sob and cling to him.
Noah was dumbfounded, "What are you talking about? Rachel, honey, I could never hate you! Look at me... look at me baby, I love you. I could never, ever hate you!" Noah felt breathless as he finished. Did he just tell Rachel he loved her? Wow, gotta work on your timing there buddy, he scolded himself. Even though, he reached up and caressed her cheek, being sure to avoid any spot that might be painful, which was no easy task. "Here," he said, and he lowered them further into the bed until they were lying down with her curled up on top of him. "I'm never leaving you Rachel," he whispered and then closed his eyes. If Rachel wanted to talk she would. Until then he'd just hold on to the girl he was so desperately in love with.
Rachel laid there against Pucks chest feeling like breathing wasn't an option. "I love you" he said "I love you". Rachel felt so many emotions that she couldn't form words. She loved Noah Puckerman more than she's ever loved anyone! But saying those words while Jesse's name still swirled in her brain just felt wrong. Whether he knew it or not, hearing him say those words, at that moment was absolutely perfect. But for her, it wasn't the right time. Trying to compensate for not saying those words, she leaned up slightly and place one hand on his cheek, rubbing her thumb across his resent shave job. "Promise?" She asked him quietly.
Noah's eyelids began to flutter and Rachel's caress, but he didn't open them, even when she asked him to promise. Opening his eyes meant he would look up into those big brown eyes and he knew there was no way to keep himself from kissing her. He did, however, reach for her other hand and intertwined their fingers and answered her "Promise."
Rachel felt relief spread through her body and decided to tell him the truth. She slowly pushed herself up and scooted off of Noah to put some space between him. "Noah," Rach looked at Noah's gorgeous eyes and soft lips. You take my breath away was all she was able to think but she bit her tongue and told him a different truth, "Noah, Jesse raped me tonight." Wow she sure made that quick. She watched as Noah tried so hard to fight his emotions. She waited for a few moments, but she was pretty sure he had stopped breathing, "Noah?"
Puck knew his fingernails had dug into his palms deep enough to cause some bleeding, but he had to do something to keep from screaming. "Noah?" He heard Rachel's worried voice. He sat up and got out of the bed, trying to avoid Rachel's eyes for just a moment. He straightened the bed where he had just been before returning to his spot, sitting in Indian-style. He finally looked at Rachel and he saw all the hurt in her eyes. Please tell me she didn't think that I wasn't abandoning her! "Oh Rach, Come here, sweetie." Noah pulled Rachel into his lap and cradled her against him. When she started to sob he couldn't fight it anymore. At first it was only a few tears, but then he felt like something was squeezing his chest and he had to gasp for air. He began to sob quietly into Rachel's hair and held her tight. As his sobs racked his body, he clenched onto Rachel's nightgown trying to pull her closer.
Rachel had so many thoughts as Noah held her, but when began to cry against her and she could felt his chest rise and drop with ragged breaths she felt comforted. She had wanted so badly keep from completely falling apart, but knowing that she wasn't the only one who felt like bawling their eyes out was a surprising relief.
It wasn't very long until Rachel was asleep in his arms and his sobs had slowed until he could breathe normally. As he sat there looking at Rachel's black eye, busted lip, the deep gash on her left cheek, her bloody fingernails and torn up palms that laid limp in her lap and he made her another promise, he'll regret this. I swear to you, he will regret ever laying a hand on my girl.
SO? Thoughts? Comments?
I thought I'd address the questions about Kurt. No Kurt will not be in this story, at least not yet. I'm trying to go with the time period of him being at Dalton Acadamy so he's not gonna arrive and become involve as quick as the rest of the group.
Enjoy and Review!
