Like I Always Wanted

Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to Glee or any of it characters.
I don't have a beta so all mistakes are mine.

Chapter 9

The rest of the week was rough. Tuesday and Wednesday they trained the girls hard and by Thursday morning Rachel was pretty sure where they were with strength and endurance. She decided that they were going to move into testing out their abilities as flyers and base. One of the most dangerous jobs on any squad or gymnastics team is the flyer and it was important to have a really solid set of bases.

Rachel had seen the Cheerios perform on numerous occasions and knew that they had a good base set she just wanted to get a feel for whom could do what before she started assigning stunts and tricks. She also needed to gauge the flyers themselves. With the girls help they broke them into groups and started testing them.

Sue and Holly sat back and watched never saying anything but helped keep times or whatever Rachel asked of them. Sue never said a word which worried the ex-Cheerios that she was up to something but Rachel was sure she was just observing and letting them do the jobs they were paid for.

There were a few more bouts of mutiny that were quickly squashed by a round of suicides or Rachel being challenged and winning every time. The last test of her authority was on Wednesday and thankfully the girls seemed to be falling in line and just getting in to the training now.

By Friday they had moved into more dramatic lifts and tosses Rachel got a group set and had them trying the toss. It was not a horribly complicated toss but it took a lot of strength and control to accomplish. It just looked harder then what is was and was flashy.

As they tossed the flyer once more and failed almost dropping the girls Rachel called them to reset. "Ok ladies, you're not straightening your arms enough as you release her. She's not getting the height she needs to accomplish her twist and she's going to get hurt."

The two bases, Andrea and Kendra groaned and Andrea spoke. "This is impossible we've never done this type of toss before. I can't be done."

Rachel shook her head. "Just because it is more complicated than what you're used to doesn't make it impossible."

Kendra scoffed. "We haven't even seen it done. How can we know it can be accomplished?"

Rachel looked across the field and spotted Brittany. "Britt, Sara can you come here please."

Brittany nodded grabbing Sara and running over. "What's up Rach?"

She explained to them what she was trying to get the girls to do and asked if they could help her demonstrate. Sara had taken gymnastics with them and Rachel knew they could help her show the girls how to properly execute the stunt. They smiled and got set. This was one of the tosses Rachel created last year and they used in the routine that won the camp trophy.

Rachel walked over to get set herself. "Watch their arms as they toss me. You just need proper extension and force to get her high enough."

She grabbed the girl's shoulders and they executed the perfect toss. Rachel twisted in the air and landed perfectly back in their arms. After a few more times running it through they set up the girls up again.

They were still having trouble getting it and when the flyer almost hit the ground again she stopped them. "Ok let's try this another way. Michelle, go with Britt and Sara. They will help you through it. I will work with these two."

Brittany pulled her to the side, whispering in her ear. "Are you sure Rach? I'm not sure I trust not being the one tossing you."

Rachel just shook her head and smiled. "Of course, go on I'll be fine."

Brittany looked at her with apprehension then moved back to help Michelle. Rachel set them up again and got set herself. They ran through it a few times and she was able to figure out that they were just releasing improperly. She talked them through it once more then they tried again.

This time Rachel almost had the height she needed to do the twists. Once they caught her she paused for a moment and noticed that Michelle was starting to get the twists and Rachel smiled turning back to the girls. "Ok, you almost have it. Are you ok to try a few more time or do you need a break?"

Kendra stretched out her shoulders. "I'm ok. We almost have it so let's try a few more times."

Andrea nodded. "Yea, I'm good too."

Rachel nodded and they set up again and this time Rachel had just the right amount of height to execute it with them catching her perfectly. "That was excellent."

They put her down and high fived before setting up to run it through a few more times to make sure they had it down. They succeeded twice more and decided after one more time they would bring Michelle back for a few tries with her before finishing up for the day.

The set up and Britt, Sara, and Michelle came over to watch. It looked like it was going to be a good toss but at the last moment the toss wasn't in sync and it threw Rachel backwards and off kilter. The moment she was release Brittany knew she was going to land too far away to be caught. "RACHEL!"

At her yell Santana and Quinn turned just as Rachel hit the ground hard. They took off at a sprint with coach and Holly following. When they made it through the crowd of girls that were surrounding her they found Rachel on her back and Brittany, Kendra and Sara assessing her.

Santana came to a stop and hit her knees beside Brittany. "What the hell happened?"

Kendra looked up with tears in her eyes. "It was a bad toss. Somehow we got out of sync when she was released. I don't know what happened."

Brittany was concentrating on Rachel who finally seemed to have caught her breath. "I'm ok… it just knocked the… wind out of me." She sat with Brittany and Kendra's help and she rested her head on Brittany's shoulder. "I'm alright… I'm not hurt…"

Rachel was helped to her feet and Coach came over looking her over deeming her ok. She let Britt pull her into a gentle but emotional hug. "You scared the crap out of me Rachel."

She rubbed her back and kissed her temple. "I'm ok hon." She released her and walked back over to the Kendra and Andrea. Kendra was still trying to figure out where they went wrong.

Rachel stepped up to Andrea and squared her shoulders. "Set it up."

There were gasps all around and Brittany was instantly at her side. "I don't think so."

Rachel shook her head never breaking eye contact with Andrea. "We are doing it again until she gets it right." Her voice was deadly calm and brooked no room for argument.

Andrea gulped at the look in her eyes and Brittany finally caught on to what was happening. "She did it on purpose?"

Rachel heard all three of her girls lunging toward her. She turned to the girls next to her. "Stop them."

Santana, Brittany and Quinn were caught midair by six of the other Cheerios. Rachel turned and gave them a look. "Stand down and let me deal with this."

The all instantly stopped and just stared at her. Not even Brittany had ever heard that tone from her before. She turned back to Andrea. "Set it up now."

Andrea and Kendra got set and she moved to them. "We will do this until you get it right five more times then I will deal with the other issue. Drop me again and I won't stop the girls next time."

Andrea nodded with a gulp and they ran through it perfectly five more times and Rachel moved away telling Michelle to take her place. "Five more times."

They nodded and ran the drill flawless all five times. Rachel approached the girls and looked to Kendra and Michelle. You did excellent that will be a great stunt for part of the routine I have planned for you." She looked to the group. "Training is over for the day. You have and hour until you need to meet up for dinner. You are excused."

She turned back to Andrea. "Follow me."

She took off toward the arena with Andrea following behind. Brittany, San and Quinn shared a look and took off after them, the squad, Coach and Holly right behind them. She stopped in the center of the arena and paused as she saw the squad getting in the stands all watching wondering what she was going to do.

Rachel looked at her and sighed. "You know there are very few things that truly anger me. One of those is for someone to cause another human being physical injury, especially without a feasible cause. Violence is never the answer. I don't know you, you don't know me so what I want to know is what it is that I have done to you that would warrant your actions today?"

Andrea shrugged casting glances to the others around her. "I didn't do anything, it was an accident."

Rachel chuckled humorlessly. "You know if I was an unintelligent person and didn't know that stunt backwards and forwards I may believe that but I am intelligent. If you ask Brittany or Sara they will tell you that I created that stunt and I know that there is no reason at all that you would have twisted your arm the way you did unless you were trying for exactly what happened."

She turned and walked a few steps away taking a breath. Brittany and Santana shared a look. In all the years they had known Rachel they had never seen or heard her the way she was right now. She was cold as she spoke almost emotionless and when you looked in her eyes she you could see the fire and could tell she was about to started shooting flames out of her ears any moment.

She walked back to her and got almost in her face. "I'm lucky I knew that stunt the way I do and I was able to turn my body the way I did or I would have a broken collar bone or neck right now. You're lucky this isn't my squad because you would be out on your ass so fast your head would spin. So, I'm not leaving you to Santana for your suicides. You get to have me. Get started."

The others watched as she ran the girl through suicide after suicide. After about 20 minutes of constant movement Brittany came up beside Rachel and immediately noticed the tension in her body. "Rach, you need to get a shower to easy your back before we go eat and there is only 30 minutes before we are set to leave."

Rachel nodded. "She has ten more before she hits 100 that's when I'll stop her."

Brittany sighed at the tone but nodded moving back over to Santana and Quinn.

When Andrea finished her hundredth suicide she collapsed on the ground and Rachel looked to the others. "That better be the last one. I will not tolerate any more crap from any of you from this moment on. You have been pushing and pushing all week and this is the final straw for me." She paused and looked to Coach Sue. "One more time and I will walk away and take everything I have created so far with me and go home. This job is not worth my life."

Sue nodded and Rachel turned back to the squad. "One more time and you lose your routine for this year and from what I have heard you can kiss your next championship goodbye because without my help and without Brittany, Quinn, and Santana on your squad you don't have a prayer."

She turned to Andrea who was finally on her feet. "One more time." With that she walked off the arena floor and went into her cabin. Santana and Quinn stayed behind to gauge the overall reaction of the squad and Brittany ran after Rachel.

Rachel made it to the bathroom before she slid to the floor pain radiating through her body. Brittany dropped beside her. "God Rach how bad is it?"

Rachel groaned. "I hurt in my back and shoulder pretty badly. I twisted my knee a little. Nothing's broken but I need to get in the hot water."

Brittany stood carefully cradling Rachel in her arms. She moved to the shower and thanked god that Marsha never took the chair out. Gently she sat Rachel down and stripped her to her bra and panties than stripped herself turning on the shower. Rachel sighed as the water ran over her and Brittany washed her hair. She washed her own hair quickly and finished stripping Rachel's under clothing and washing her gently but quickly as well.

Once Rachel was clean Britt left her to just sit with the water running as she ran to their room and grabbed a few towels and some clothes for them both. She checked her watch then moved over to Rachel tuning off the water and towel drying as much of her as she could while sitting then pulling her to standing to finish.

She helped her pull on all her clothing except her shirt then sat her in the vanity chair by the sink to rest for a moment. Quickly she shed her wet under clothing and dressed herself then turned to back to Rachel. She grabbed the jar of liniment that she had brought with her from home that had no odor and massaged it into Rachel's back and shoulders.

This week of training had been hell and with all the crap the squad had been pulling she had already been sore from having to prove herself over and over during the start of the week. This latest shit wasn't ok and was hurting so much. She was looking forward to two days of planning with no more than a run and 45 minute morning workout. Her poor battered body needed rest.

Brittany helped her pull on her shirt after rubbing the liniment in thoroughly and kissed her shoulder softly before kneeling in front of her. She put the liniment on her knee and slipped an ACE wrap on it gently then pulling her to her feet once again. "Ok, how does that feel? I put on your longer shorts so they couldn't see the ACE."

Rachel took stock stretching and moving her shoulder. "All in all not too bad. As long as I don't move my shoulder too much I'm good. Thank you."

Brittany looked at her worriedly. "I really wish you'd let me grab you some food and stay here to rest."

Rachel shook her head. "I can't. They can't see weakness. I'm ok just really sore."

Brittany sighed, "Fine but tomorrow you are staying in for at least breakfast."

"I can't I have to run or I'll tighten up more."

Grabbing her hand and heading for the door she huffed. "We'll see."

They left the cabin just barely making it before they were late. They walked over, Rachel with her head held high and joined Santana and Quinn at the head of the formation. Santana looked her over. "You ok?"

Rachel nodded and looked over the group already in formation not seeing Andrea. She looked over and saw Holly come out of the bunk house but not Coach. They walked over and Rachel looked toward the door. "Where's Coach?"

Holly sighed. "She said to go on without her. She'll get dinner later. She's dealing with getting Andrea packed and sent home."

Rachel looked up shocked and Quinn rubbed her arm. "Coach may be crazy but she will not put up with someone putting her girls in danger. If she would hurt you for no real reason what would stop her from doing it again with anyone else? She was one of the main bases and always had someone in the air. The others won't trust her either now so she's off the squad."

Rachel just nodded and they went to the squad and led them out.

Dinner was mostly a quiet affair no one was talking much. When they made it back she excused herself to the cabin and collapsed on her bed. A few minutes later she was surrounded as they pushed the other bed next to her and snuggled around her with the IPads for a movie.

Brittany spooned her from behind and cradled her body with her own as they watched. Rachel just sunk into her on a sigh as Santana and Quinn snuggled up in front of her. No one spoke, no words were needed as they settled for the night eventually falling asleep again together.

A/N: Next up a little fluffiness for the weekend to come and hardcore training come Monday. Send me your reviews and let me know what you think so far.