Chapter 11 - A Friend You Need

She makes it to Britt's and Santana's way too fast to be deemed safe. A prayer escapes her lips as soon as she's parked outside of the apartment building; she's thankful Beth's safe, she's thankful she's safe and away from Russell.

Only then does she realize that surprisingly (or unsurprisingly, when she really thinks about it), Rachel is already there. Leaning on the hood of her car, with arms crossed, and downcast eyes, Rachel's shoe-covered toes make a semi-circle on the dirt of the ground.

It's not her intention to call attention to herself, but the brunnette looks up when she slams her door shut. Rachel immediately relaxes - her arms drop and she stops biting on her lower lip. "Oh. Thank god you're okay-" she says as she slowly crosses the street to approach Quinn. "I wasn't sure what the proper protocol was here and I just knew I had to call Santana. You just sounded so... Terrified on the phone and I had to see it for myself that you got here safe. I don't know, I hope I'm not intruding or overstepping-" She notices that Quinn managed to open the back door and sit on the seat, but she didn't do anything else.

With a steadying breath, Rachel takes out her phone from her back pocket and calls Britt. Quinn is just sitting with her head thrown back and eyes closed, trying to not start crying and freaking out again. One arm is stretched and touching Beth's arm, to make sure she's here.

As soon as Britt picks up, Rachel says, "She's here. Will you come down and take Little B up to your apartment?"

Not even three seconds later, the apartment door is being opened, and Britt's racing downstairs. Conquering two steps at a time, she manages to get to the car in ten seconds - tops. She's barefoot; Rachel appreciates her sense of urgency.

Stopping by the left side of the car, where Quinn's sitting, Britt lands a kiss on her cheek. Quinn inhales deeply at the feeling, shutting her eyes harder. Britt whispers something to her, and she nods, slowly letting go of her grip on Beth. Britt gives Rachel a half smile - rather sad, and Rachel notices that Britt does not match sad - and then runs to the other side. She opens the door and unbuckles Beth, craddling her and cooing her as she takes her back inside the house.

Rachel is lost. She really doesn't know what to do or say, but her instinct tells her that Quinn needs a hug; she needs someone to just be there right now. So she walks to the side where Beth was and shuts that door. Then she walks back and sits at the very edge of the seat Quinn's occupying. She wiggles a little, and waits - to avaliate Quinn's reaction.

Quinn opens one eye. Cautiously. She wants to glare because Rachel's not supposed to be here; she's definitely not supposed to be seeing her like this - all broken and wasted; she's not supposed to be making her want to laugh.

Rachel does it again, and then smiles - a closed-lip smile; testing the waters. Quinn gives in with a sigh (and possibly a giggle or two), rolls her eyes, and scoots over so she's trapped between Rachel and the carseat. This time, Rachel doesn't hesitate. She wraps her left arm around Quinn's shoulders and pulls her into her. The blonde instantly melts in her arms and holds tight to Rachel's waist.

"You're okay," Rachel reassures her. She doesn't even know why she feels the need to tell her but she does.

Rachel kisses the top of Quinn's head and Quinn exhales, so thankful that Rachel is here. Sure, Britt or Santana could do this, too, but Rachel just has this thing about her that Quinn can't quite explain. This woman, practically a stranger, knows just what she needs at all times, it seems.

She heaves a sigh and Rachel hugs her tighter. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"Uh," Quinn tries to speak but her voice sounds all nasty because she has been crying. "I, well -"

"Okay, that's okay." Rachel lets her know, and then she adds, "we don't have to talk about it right now. We can just sit here like this for a little while... When - and if - you feel like talking, I'll be right here, okay?" She keeps her hand running up and down Quinn's arm to comfort her. "Good thing the weather is nice outside today..." Rachel jokes because usually it gets really hot during the summer (specially being inside a car), but only chuckles once. "And if you actually don't want to talk at all, we can go upstairs, when you've calmed down... And then you can take a bath and we can put on a movie."

Quinn nods against her chest and keeps quiet, not to start crying again, because Rachel is too perfect and she doesn't even know how to thank her. "Santana is on her way back from work. She texted me right before you got here," Rachel continues talking to give Quinn something to focus on other than whatever it is made her feel like this. "Um, she said that she's bringing your favorite pizza and if I had to guess, I'd say it comes with candy on top?" Rachel says and this earns a half-attempt at a laugh by Quinn, who just ends up tearing up again. "Oh, no. None of this crying again." Rachel soothingly tries to get Quinn to stop. She uses her free hand to dry Quinn's cheek and under her eyes with a thumb.

"Usually, I'm all for venting emotions and the crying, but - I can't watch you cry; it hurts my heart. I just - tell me what to do, please?" Rachel whispers the last word.

It's barely audible, but Quinn manages to say, "just keep talking." She likes to hear Rachel's voice rambling about whatever. She needs to hear her voice to keep her thoughts from taking her back to her bad place. "Please, just keep talking." She says, a little more desperate this time, because just thinking about thinking about it freaks her out.

"Okay," Rachel tells her with a calm tone of voice. She can sense the desperation threatening to surface again. "Okay, it's okay. I can keep talking for as long as you want me to. You know I don't have a problem with that." Rachel seeks out Quinn's hand and starts messing with her fingers. "Have you ever heard the Chinese tale of the red thread of fate?" She asks her. Rachel doesn't know why this is what she thinks of, but she goes ahead with it when Quinn shakes her head no.

"Well," Rachel begins and continues to touch each of Quinn's fingers reverently, as she speaks. "In Chinese folklore, there's this belief that two people who are meant to be together are tied by an invisible red thread. I'm not sure where it is tied - I've heard that it can be tied around ankles or around the ring fingers... It doesn't matter. Now, this thread can stretch and even tangle, but it never breaks, and those destined to meet, will meet, regardless of time, place, or circumstance." Rachel's lips automatically smile at the thought of being thethered to Quinn by this red string. Before Rachel can continue, though, she hears Quinn speak.

"Do you believe in that?"

She purses her lips, tightens her hold on the girl, and looks out toward the apartment of Britt and Santana. She thinks about how it surely feels like she and Quinn had been destined to meet, and how it feels like they just... Fit. She doesn't want to freak her out so she just nods, "Yes and no."

"What does that mean?" Quinn asks, frowning. Then, the blonde stops Rachel's hand and interweaves their fingers.

"I don't know. It means that I'd like to believe in it, but I don't want to be expecting something and then be disappointed..."

Quinn squeezes Rachel's hand and all she says is, "I believe it." And so, Rachel believes it, too.

"Okay," Rachel says, "ask me again."

"Do you believe in that?"

"Yes!" Rachel says, convinced. She laughs out loud and Quinn ends up giggling. It's quieter than Rachel has ever heard it before but she got her to smile, so that's good. A car turns around the corner of the vacant street, and pulls up in front of Quinn's. "I think Santana's here," Rachel tells Quinn.

Quinn just whispers, "Get rid of her."

Santana comes out of the car in front of them - a red truck - and cautiously approaches the open door of Quinn's car with two pizzas in hand, rocking scrubs and white sneakers. When she gets close enough to speak, Rachel looks at her with pleading eyes and then puts up two fingers, asking for just a couple more minutes alone with Quinn.

Understanding this, Santana gives her a half-hearted smile and nods toward the stairs. Rachel nods back.

"Want to tell me what that's all about?" Rachel asks when Santana is at a distance far enough that she won't hear.

"She'd want to talk about it -" Quinn sighs, "and right now, I really just want to forget it. I want to sit here and drink this moment in." She tilts her head up just so to be able to look at Rachel in the eyes when she tells her, "Thank you."

"Don't thank me, Quinn. I haven't done much."

"Hey, do not play down your actions. You have been nothing but great." Quinn says, sitting up - causing her to move away from Rachel's hold. They both miss it instantly, but she needs Rachel to understand this. "Don't, okay? I appreciate it. And I'm sorry for the way I acted on the phone - hanging up and not picking up and stuff..."

Rachel smiles softly and then reaches for her again. Quinn settles against her easily, "don't apologize. I'm just glad you're alright. You had me worried there for a bit, but when you called Santana, she immediately texted me to let me know you were okay and on your way here. And when I saw you - I, I don't know. I knew the worst scenario my overly active brain came up with didn't happen."

Quinn asks, "what's the worst scenario you came up with?"

"You don't want to know and I don't really want to keep thinking about it," Rachel dismisses it with a frown.

But Quinn is persistent - and curious - so she presses, "no, tell me."

Rachel sighs and rolls her neck a few times before settling her head on top of Quinn's. She whispers because she doesn't think she can actually say the words out loud for fear that having Quinn in her arms right now is nothing but a dream; she's afraid that time will rewind and what she was afraid of will happen. "I don't know, I guess - I just thought that when you hung up, someone attacked you. You know, put a gun or a knife to you and made you... Hang up... And," Rachel is having trouble breathing. She stops speaking to collect herself, "and I thought of Beth and - god, it was awful."

Quinn can do nothing but wrap her arms around Rachel's neck. She's here. Nothing happened and she's here. The comforted becomes the comforter in this moment. The position is awkward in the car, but Quinn manages to turn her body so that she's got a grip of Rachel. They're looking right into each other's eyes. Dropping her forehead to Rachel, Quinn says, "I'm right here, baby. Right here."

Rachel nods and tears pour out of her eyes with each nod; she's so glad Quinn is okay. The need to kiss Quinn is growing with each second she looks into pools of honey but she also knows this is not the appropriate moment for a first kiss. So she closes her eyes and pushes her forehead against Quinn's. They're both breathing heavily, swirled by the intoxicating need to hold each other and feel each other. Tilting her chin down, Rachel places a lingering kiss on Quinn's forehead. When the kiss breaks, she has to pull away as soon as possible, and then drops back on the seat. "Do you want some pizza?" She doesn't quite look into Quinn's eyes, but she's still in danger of doing something stupid while in the small confines of the car in her presence. And the air just got incredibly unbearable in here.

Also, the word 'baby' didn't go unheard in Rachel's ears. She cherished hearing it. She... Loved hearing it, actually. But she decides not to dwell on it for this moment.

The blonde's eyes are fixed in the way that Rachel's hand automatically grasped hers when they moved apart from their embrace. She's sure that Rachel didn't even noticed, but her lips quirk up when Rachel brings their tangled hands up and kisses the back of her hand. "So, pizza?" Rachel asks her once again, because she didn't respond the first time.

"Oh, yes. Please."

"Okay," Rachel smiles reassuringly and gets out of the car first, never letting go of Quinn's hand, and then she helps Quinn get out too. Reaching around Quinn, she shuts the door and makes sure Quinn has her keys and the car is locked.

They walk in silence, across the street and up the stairs to Santana's and Britt's first floor apartment. Any other day, Rachel would've knocked but this time she simply opens the door. Inside the apartment, she turns to Quinn and rubs her hands up and down her arms. "Would you like some pizza first or a bath to relax? I can go draw you one in the guest bathroom."

Quinn's eyes dart down the darkened hallway to see if any of her friends are coming, but it's quiet in the apartment. She thinks about it, "I think I'll eat first. I don't want to make you guys wait for me any longer and I hate reheated pizza." She grimaces at the thought and it makes Rachel chuckle amusedly.

"Okay, that's okay." Rachel leans forward on her tippy-toes and kisses her cheek - just because now that she's felt her lips on Quinn's skin, she never wants to stop. "Come on," Rachel leads them down the hallway and into the living room.

The living room is a great contrast to the hallway; the windows' blinds are all open so natural sunlight is streaming in. It takes a few seconds for their eyes to adjust to it. Britt, Santana, and Beth are all laying on the floor, napping together - Beth in between the two girlfriends.

She can't help it but tilt her head to the side and aw at the picture. Santana is turned toward Beth, a hand carefully touching her belly, and Britt's spooning Santana from behind. Quinn quickly pulls out her iPhone and snaps a picture. The she turns to Rachel, "maybe I should take that bath first, you know - so they can rest." A half-smile tugs at the corner of her lips, and Rachel gets it.

Rachel nods once and takes Quinn's hand to walk them to the bathroom. She turns on the light and then makes Quinn sit on the toilet, with the cover down. "Tell me where I can find a towel," she asks.

Quinn tries to argue it, "you don't really have to draw me a bath and find me a towel, Rachel. I can do those things for myself."

"Baby," Rachel whines, with a smirk. Okay, so she's using it for her advantage but whatever. She tilts her head and narrows her eyes at Quinn. "Please, tell me where the towel is and let me draw you a bath, okay?"

She stares at Rachel hard, trying not to give in, but Rachel's disarming smile makes her agree. "Okay," she tells her. "The towels they keep in the second cabinet from the door in their bathroom. And the bath salts and oils, in the... Drawer all the way to the right."

Rachel beams, "okay! I'll be right back." She promises Quinn and leaves her there to go find those things.

Finally alone again, Quinn doesn't quite know what to do. This day surely turned out different than what she had expected. How very glad is she to have Rachel in her life now. She makes forgetting about her psychotic father easier. She knows that she'll have to tell Rachel about the deal between her, Puck, and Russell that night. For some reason, she isn't at all afraid of what Rachel's reaction will be. She isn't embarrassed of the decisions she's made; she knows they're all right. But, she just hates talking about it because it's like she's re-living the entire ordeal and she just wants to forget about it. Once and for all, she just needs to not go through all the pain again.

Sooner than she thinks, Rachel is back - hands occupied with a lavender bath oil, salts, and two towels. "Here," she hands one of the towels to Quinn. "Go shower in their bathroom while I fix this bathtub for you." Both bathrooms have bath/showers enclosures, so it's not like it'd make a difference in comfort, but she really believes Quinn will feel better after a bath.

"Okay," she says and goes off to the girls' bathroom. Rachel watches her go with a pained expression. She's been wondering ever since the phone call what could possibly have happened for Quinn to be like this. Santana didn't give her much detail when she texted her earlier when Quinn picked up her phone call. And Rachel worries. She worries for Quinn. Turning on the bathtub's faucet, she makes sure that the temperature of the water is warm and not too hot or cold.

While the water fills up, she thinks about the state Quinn was in when she first saw her today. It's like Quinn wasn't even there until the moment Rachel made her scoot over and took Quinn in her arms. She shakes the thoughts away; she's okay now. She's even speaking again. Beth is also alright, being protected by Santana and Britt of whatever the harm is.

She turns off the water and drops in a few drops of the oil and then she tips in one cup of each of the bath salts. Right on time, Quinn shows up at the door, showered. She's dripping wet - her hair is combed back and the towel doesn't seem to cover enough of her body parts because the sight alone makes Rachel gulp.

She averts her eyes quickly and says, "um, the bath's ready. I'll - go, so you can settle. Then," she clears her throat and looks all around Quinn (but not at Quinn, trying to respect her), "I'll be back with another towel to put under your head because I fogot that and yeah." She rushes the last sentence and then gets up and leaves the bathroom without glancing another look at Quinn. She should've thought this through.

Slowly, she goes and finds a third towel in the master bathroom. She does so slow so Quinn has time to immerse herself in the bath and cover... Parts of her that Rachel should't be thinking of right now. She knocks on the door lightly and a soft voice tells her to come in. She pushes on the door carefully, and peeks to make sure that Quinn did actually tell her to come in and that Quinn is indeed respectable.

The towel in her hands is a light turquoise. She focuses on that as she walks closer to Quinn. "I'm going to put this under your head, okay?" She asks, and folds it one more time.

Quinn looks at her, already looking much more relaxed, and smiles in approval. "Thanks," she tells Rachel, and by that she means, 'thanks for everything.'

Rachel sits on the edge of the bathtub and frowns as she leans closer to a (very naked and very wet) Quinn. Damn it, the thoughts in her mind right now; but Quinn doesn't need this right now. She needs a friend more than anything.

With delicate gestures, Rachel lifts Quinn's head and moves the towel under it. They're so close to each other and the lavender smell is really strong. Before doing anything harsh -like, throwing herself in the bathtub and kissing Quinn senseless,- Rachel speaks in Quinn's ear, "You're beautiful. Even broken, I see you and you're an amazing woman." Then she stands to go.

When she twirls on her heels, a hand grasps her by the wrist. "I don't want to be alone. Will you sit here with me and hold my hand?" She looks at Rachel from behind her long eyelashes, and Rachel finds that impossible to resist.

Swallowing hard, she nods. Then she drops on the side of the bathtub and faces Quinn, sitting against the wall opposite Quinn. Their arms stretch so their hands can touch, but this feels right. Rachel entertains herself with playing with the fingers of Quinn's left hand, like back in the car, and Quinn completely relaxes under her touch.

After a good ten minutes of silence, Quinn asks, "will you sing me something?"

Rachel looks for Quinn's eyes, but they're still shut. She nods anyway and says, "sure, what would you like to hear?"

Quinn's smile is tight but present, and she frowns too, but then she says, "anything. I'm sure I'll love it."

So Rachel takes a deep breath and thinks. There's only one song she can think of at the moment. She sings with a soft voice, not wanting the song to be heard by any other ears other than Quinn's. She grips Quinn's hand harder.

The moment feels intimate and like it belongs to them and only them. There is no playback or another person playing an instrument, but it doesn't seem to matter. It makes it even more personal. Her own eyes are shut, but she feels the exact time when Quinn's eyes land on her. It feels overwhelming, but she doesn't stop until she sings the last note for Quinn to hear.

There comes a time
A time in everyone's life
When nothing seems to go their way
When nothing seems to turn out right
There may come a time
You just can't seem to find your place
For every door you open
Seems like you get two slammed in your face

That's when you need someone
Someone that you can call
When all your faith is gone
It feels like you can't go on
Let it be me
Let it be me
If it's a friend you need
Let it be me
Let it be me

Feels like you always coming up last
Pockets full of nothing
Ain't got no cash
Don't matter where you turn
You ain't got no place to stand
You reach out for something and they slap your hand

I remember all too well
Just how it feels to be all alone
You feel like you'd give anything
For just a little place you can call your own

That's when you need someone
Someone that you can call
When all your faith is gone
It feels like you can't go on
Let it be me
Let it be me
If it's a friend you need
Let it be me
Let it be me
Let it be me
Let it be me
If it's a friend you need
Let it be me
Let it be me
Let it be me

Her voice drifts away and when she opens her eyes, Quinn is smiling; grinning. With teary eyes, but her lips are parted and her teeth are showing. Rachel scoots forward on the tile floor of the bathroom and then places a cold hand against Quinn's warm, pink cheek. The blonde tilts her head towards the gesture and then closes her eyes, "that was beautiful. Thank you."

"I mean every single word," Rachel tells her. Quinn is certain that Rachel is telling her nothing but the truth, so she just nods. Then Rachel closes her hand against Quinn's cheek and runs her thumb over and over on the soft skin. "Ready to eat?"

"Yes," Quinn tells her without looking away.

"Okay. Well, I'll go warm the pizza with a trick my father taught me and you won't even notice it was reheated, alright? You take your time to get ready and come out whenever. I'll wake the girls, too. I know Britt has to go into work soon, anyway."

Quinn shakes her head lightly, not because she doesn't agree, but because Rachel is just so gentle about it all. "You're an angel sent from heaven to me, Rachel." Quinn's voice is soft and warm and laced with cotton.

Rachel simply stands, with one last squeeze of Quinn's hand, winks, and leaves.


A/N: The song is Let It Be Me by Ray LaMontagne. Give it a listen.:)

The next chapter will explain the entire thing. Thank you for all of your alerts and reviews and faith. :)

-TWiM